Immature? C'mon Gillard, it's bare-knuckle politics, something you should be used to by now.

Seems to me that Gilliard is the real sore loser...

"...His operatives recently threatened legislators and their staffs..." Really now? IF that's the truth THEN why were there about a dozen Alternate Member changes that were mostly "pro-Janet" votes and mostly came from Ex-Officio's? Hmmmm???

Why did numerous Central Committee Members receive arm-twisting phone calls from Janet and her henchmen spreading all sort of falsehoods about Dina Nguyen that caused them to switch votes?

What about Janet securing a signed blank copy of an Alternate Form from Grace Hu then filling it out herself with her own staffer? Obviously, Grace did not approve of this becasue when she found out, she immediately typed a letter rescinding the change. By the way, isn't this illegal? There must be some sort of reprocussion for fraud and deceit.

"This immature and vindictive behavior does not bode well for someone who supposedly has been thinking about running for higher office in the future." - Well said - about Janet - AND Mimi Walters, who's meddling in a race just because of the incumbent woman.

I'd rather vote for a Lady versus a woman any day which is why I will not be supporting the woman, Janet Ngueyn, in that race and will be voting for the Lady, Dina Nguyen.

I think Van Tran's endorsement of Harry Sidhu is huge and will cause others to endorse him as well. This spells big trouble for Mimi Walters which is why she's taking a cheap shot at Van through her consultant. How sad...how typical...

Van endorsed Dennis Mountjoy because Huff wouldn't play along either.

Dave Gilliard needs to exit from his work......lately he has been really confused with his operations.

Harry Sidhu has been working very hard on this campaign and he deserves this important endorsement.

http://www.theliberaloc.com/2008/04/23/the-devil-made-me-do-it/

Go see how the other side is tracking this election...And it was discussed openly at the central committee meeting about the threats that Van Tran had made about anyone endorsing Janet Nguyen, that he would endorse their opponent.

Now it's coming true...so I guess they really were threats and he's carrying through with them.

Art Pedroza is bored at his "lefty blog"........ the losing team Janet needs to stay away from these lefty Dems.

Dave Gilliard, what about your bold comment made last year?

"Nothing can be done without my permission (in re. to OC political decisions)"

We don't appreciate your nasty/cocky comments and I believe you are fast approaching your retirement door!

This is some pretty desperate spin on Gilliard's part.

Tran was seatmates with Mountjoy and needs Sidhu's support for the Congressional race.

Making this about Janet is just weird.

But keep bad mouthing the only Republican interested in taking seats back from Democrats in central OC.

The only Republican who has taken a seat back from a Democrat in central OC recently is Janet Nguyen!

Anon at 3:26 p.m.:

I emptied out your comment. Tone it down or you'll be exiled to the Village of the Banned.

Janet is more leaning friendly with Dems........ might vote for Obama.

Actually, Van Tran should have endorsed Hary Sidhu a long, long time ago. Harry's been nothing but a friend and ally over the years. Can't say the same for Mimi Walters. Tran has shown a lot of restraint in staying neutral for so long. It's good that he realizes who is real friends are and make a clear decision.

As for Gillard's decision, sounds like the Mimi camp being real sore about all of this, not Tran. He's trying too hard to make endorsement into this "get you back" scenario.

I agree. Dave Gilliard should behave with more maturity and it's sad to watching him attacking respected republican with indecent lies.

DEAR "TRUE FRIEND": It is amazing how many endorsements he is making for the persons running opposite of those who endorsed Janet. Can you name one person he has endorsed who supported Janet?

"True Friend" -

The only "sore loser" is Van Tran. Period. As has been asked: name one candidate who Tran has endorsed who supported Janet.

The Trannies have been unofficially supporting Sidhu since Walters COS Zari threw her support behind Janet at the Republican Central Committee meeting a couple months ago. Now it's just official.

I don't the endorsement does a thing for Sidhu. The Tran mafia have got their hands full over the next few weeks trying to take down Janet in the primary. There's not much time left for the Sidhu-Walters race with absentees being mailed out soon. Sidhu already had the "Asian" thing covered with the Michelle Steel endorsement, so adding Tran doesn't do much.

Long story short: Tran means nothing in this race.

Obsessed,

Sounds like you are obsessed with Van Tran. I've rarely seen an endorsement created so much rancor and frustration, unless it means something to those who did not get endorsed. Don't try to coat it other than what it is. Live with it.

Long story short: THIS endorsement means something to Harry and it hurts Mimi. Admit it. BTW, what you don't see will kill you when it's too late to find out, right?

As for Janet Nguyen, she's already in a world of hurt.

Art, the real loser is "losing team Janet and Dave Gilliard".

Dave knows the importance of Assemblyman Van Tran's endorsement in this race. Otherwise, why is Dave huffing and puffing at his endorsement?

There are at least 10,000 Asian GOP voters in the 33rd. Yeah, I'd say Mimi's in trouble.

But why does she goes out of her way to antagonize Van Tran when she has her own race to worry about? It's just plain dumb.

You know happens to people who defy the all powerful Godfather of Little Saigon. Look for Mimi to wake up tomorrow with a horse head in her bed.

"It is amazing how many endorsements he is making for the persons running opposite of those who endorsed Janet. Can you name one person he has endorsed who supported Janet?"

How silly.

Van has supported:
Congressman Ed Royce (worked for him as a state senator)
Senator Dick Ackerman, Former Republican Leader
Senator Tom Harman
Assemblyman Jim Silva
Pat Bates, Board of Supervisors, 5th District
Bill Campbell, Board of Supervisors, 3rd District
Chris Norby, Board of Supervisors, 4th District
Bill Dalton, Mayor
Paul Glabb, Councilman
Keith Curry, Councilman
Dennis Bilodeau, Councilman
Jon Dumitru, Councilman
Carlos Bustamante, Councilman
Brett Franklin, Mayor Pro-tem (Ret.)
Alberta Christy, Councilwoman (Ret.)
David Cadena, Mayor
Ed Royce, Sr., Councilman
Frank Fry, Councilman
Tony Lam, Councilman (Ret.)
Dr. Alexandria Coronado, President, Orange County Board of Education
Ken Williams, Orange County Board of Education
Dennis Bilodeau, Orange County Water District
ATLAS PAC
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
Lincoln Club of Orange County PAC
Orange County Taxpayer's Association PAC
and
GenNext PAC

I'm sure there are more, but unlike Janet, Van cares about the future of our Republican party.

I still don't understand why a solid Republican like Mimi cares about a RINO like Janet.

I doubt seriously that Dave Gilliard (or Mimi) are worried about Van Tran's endorsement. Simply shining a light on his motives.

Van's powerbase is dimishing. Only those on this blog aren't aware of it. The rest of us know it.

Here’s some food for thought: Is Van Tran hitting back at Walters over Janet Nguyen, or is he really hitting at Ackerman against his hand-picked successor? Or is it a little bit of both?

Please!

If Van Tran's endorsement doesn't matter, why the rancor and frustration against him? The anti-Tran contents on this blog tell all of us that his endorsement matters a lot.

I'd say over 10,000 Asian GOP voters matter very much with Tran's help.

Holy crap.

Dave...you've lost it.

I know Van has dominated your thoughts lately, but what do you gain by sending this out? I can see the benefit in the gamble of trying to elevate yourself to Van's status (and the influence that would have on your clients), but I have to plead with you that the benefit-cost ratio on this one is really bad for you man.

You knew very well that Van was going to endorse Harry. You've known this for weeks, if not months. Michelle Steel also endorsed Harry Sidhu and we didn't see a scathing response from you on that one. Are you now going after everyone who endorsed Harry instead of Mimi?

Bad move man.

Dave Gillard,

.... And we are to believe the horse manure that you send out? Wonder how much the statement cost Walters?

Gina Zari and Dave Gilliard are nothing but a plague on Mimi's campaign. First, Gina didn't even NEED to endorse Janet in the first place. When it came to her in Central Committee it already had enough votes - a simple abstain and they don't get on Van's bad side. Now this from Dave? I guess that's what Mimi gets for not hiring well. A glorified secretary and a vindictive consultant with an ego aren't who I would pick for my team.

I wouldn't use the same words as the person above my comment used, but he/she does make some good points.

Mimi really has to be asking herself: what the HECK do I gain from this?

Gilliard's blowing a bit too hard like the Santa Ana wind in the middle of Winter, not to mention the falsehoods he spewed otu from his so-called response.

Wow. Who let out the Trannies?

You guys are far too full of yourselves. Tran's endorsement means jack in this race. 10,000 Asians? Boo hoo. Doesn't mean a thing in this low turnout primary.

And there's a huge ASSumption in stating that because Van Tran's name is an endorser, EVERY Asian will support Sidhu. That shows a lot of disrespect toward the Asian community. What, like their just some homogenous, monolithic, race-conscious voting bloc? Please! You guys write and speak of them like they're there just for Tran's exploitation.

Van Tran has a personal vendetta against Janet. EVERYONE knows it. He's backed himself into a corner with the party and he's bothering people with his arrogance.

To borrow from the great messiah of "hope" and "change," Barack Obama, Van Tran has become the crazy uncle of the Orange County Republican Party.

Why would it mean less in a low turnout primary? Wouldn't that many voters mean MORE in a low turnout primary? Especially considering the high percentage of asian voters who vote by absentee. Looks like someone skipped campaign math 101. And secondly, of course the entire voting bloc isn't going to instantly vote for Harry now because of Van's endorsement; but to discount it completely is simpy silly.

Fremont,

Sounds like you're venting green house gas against Van Tran. You are pretty arrogant too, but tinged with a heavy dose of fear and false bravado. You must be a Janet Nguyen sycophant. But that's okay. You guys do flock together.

For your info, 10,000 Asian GOP voters will break Mimi, and it will be blow out in a low turn-out race. Why do you think Mimi Walters and her overpaid consultant Gilliard are going apolectic with Tran's endorsement for Harry? Remember a guy name Mitt Romney and how he did in Central OC against John McCain? The answer is in the question, if you are smart enough to figure out. Glad that you know enough to cry early, boo hoo.

As for the Party, you're polluting with your noxious gas again. Where would the Party, and Janet, a former Trannie, be without the Tran voter registration machine? So, give us all a break and park your mouth where it won't pollute.

Jc Fremont

Don't act and be like a moron. This blog has some standards.

Hey JC,

"Tran's endorsement means jack in this race. 10,000 Asians? Boo hoo."

Save some tears for Walters on June 4. You are scared. It's clearly written above.

Scared of Van?! Please!

Don't Pollute -

10,000 Asians only show up on a perfect day. In a low turnout election like this, you'd be lucky to get 20% of that. Again, doesn't mean a thing, even after your huge, insulting, assumption.

Who are you mistaking me for? I could care less about Janet. I care about the party.

Fremont,

Truth is truth, and it hurts does it not? It's not insulting. It's a blow out, man. Get it through your head. This race will be decided by just a couple thusand votes. That's right.

And, once again, my posts are censored.

JC:

There are rules for the comments section to ensure decorum. You've been coming round long enough that you should be aware of them, but I'll reiterate:

1) No profanity or obscenity.

2) No personal attacks or personal gossip.

The "censored" comment violated the latter rule.

I know it's hard going through a mid-life crisis, but I feel that Uncle Van is finally finding where he stands in life: between the California Congress of Republicans and the Log Cabin Republicans.

Where are the personal attacks?!

It's your blog, so it's your rules and I'll abide by them, but there's been much MUCH worse written here that's stayed up.

At the end of the day, I'm pleased Jubal stepped in. At the very least, he made me seem - to him - dignified. There are certainly worse things.

There's no hatred, just frustration with those who would tear down the Republican Party for their own gain.

Van put Janet on the planning commission, helped her run for his council seat (while she stabbed him and Any Quach in the back) and then stayed out of her short lived Assembly campaign for the 68th when Van was going to run for State Senate. That left over Assembly money gave Janet an early start on her supervisor run and eventually turned out to be the difference maker.

He also registered so many Republicans in the area that Daucher was close and that Janet and Trung came in first and second in a Democrat district.

So to say that he is hurting the party is a stretch. Frankly, if Dick Ackerman was bright enough to know that a white female from out of district could not win that seat, we would have an extra Republican Senator.

Seems like the Ackerman/Walters/country club GOP crowd are really the ones hurting our party in Central OC.

Fremont,

Tran helped the GOP for years since his college days. Your comments on Tran and Central OC politics in general are shallow and lacked insight. You just wanted to air out your hatred and misplaced frustration. I suggest that you do more research as to how things really are on the scene.

It's sad for some of us see Tran squander much of what he has done over the past year and a half.

JC-

Dignified or not (whatever you consider that to be), your comments have been nothing but gossip garbage about one of the most respected members of the OC Assembly delegation. I'm sure THAT is why Jubal interfered, not because he thinks you're too "dignified" for your comments.

Further, you are either incredibly stupid or just playing stupid. To say that 10,000 votes in a low turn out election "doesn't mean a thing" shows nothing but complete ignorance on the subject. Any campaigner knows what their vote goal is on any given election. Go ask Mimi's campaign manager if she thinks a 10,000 vote swing matters...I'm sure she knows what her vote goal is. And then to say that the Asians don't turn out is an even more ignorant comment. Read the numbers from the past elections and I'll guarantee you the Asians turned out at a higher percentage than ANY other ethnic community, NO MATTER what election it was in.

As far as Van "using" the Asian vote for his own exploitation, as you so put it, I'll say this: I'm not part of his community but I understand why they listen to him. As a matter of fact even people outside of his ethnic community, like myself, have great respect for Van. Not because he's trying to "build an empire" *sounds of black helicopters flying above*, as you and the rest of Janet's apologists have spewed for the last few months, but because I (and others) have grown a great appreciation for his integrity, his political judgement, and for his work ethic. I didn't NEED Van to tell me not to support Janet, but his opinion was part certainly part of my decision. I decided not to support Janet because of JANET.

Now get to work fixing the mistake you guys just made. I'm sure Mimi's campaign manager is livid about this, and if she's not, she certainly should be.

anon at 8:44 AM,

You should be sad for the local GOP, not Van Tran. I don't see him squandering anything other than standing firm with his allies and supporters for what they believe in, despite the fact that you may disagree with them. Do you expect his detractors to support him even when he's playing ball with them? Wake up and smell the coffee.

California Congress of Republicans...VAN TRAN...Log Cabin Republicans

Some political judgment.

"CRA Republican" is obviously not an ideological member of CRA. Whomever is carrying the pseudonym should be purged.

It's clear Assemblyman Tran had found himself in some very interesting company.

Thanks Art for your support.

Why don't you take FC Fremont for your lefty blog tour....... He fits in to your mold.

Well, those of you , who spoke in supporting of Van Tran , have to eat your words now . The election result for 33rd district is in, and Mimi Walters ran away with it .

Let it be known that those candidates, who had received endorsements from Van Tran: Lynn Daucher, Trung Nguyen, Dina Nguyen, Hary Sidhu had lost . Does that beg the question of Van Tran's political judgement ? The reason he is elected an assemblyman in Sacramento is because he's exploiting the votes and sympathies of the Vietnamese-American elders, otherwise, he'd get nowhere for he has no talents, poor political judgements and lots of pettiness within him . I have no use , and no respect for politician like Van Tran !

Who is the loser now??? Van Tran does not means much within the Asian communities, especially the Vietnamese-American community . He could only fool the elderly, who could not speak and understand English, and they are subjected to Tran's exploitation for political gains .

What a lousy politician! As a Vietnamse, I am so ashamed to have Tran representing the 68th district in Sacramento, and I swear I would do all I can within my power to throw this bum out of office . The tide is turning, as more and more people become aware of his dirty and unacceptable political mud slinging and vindictive style .

Mimi won a race she was supposed to win and Van supported a councilman who can raise him a ton of money in a city that is in the 47CD but does not overlap the 68AD very much.

Seems like good political judgement to me.

Mimi can dream up more propositions that will fail like her previous ones and Van will be busy taking out Democrats from Congress and supporting our Republican nominee for President.

I can't think of one thing Mimi has done to help take out a Democrat. Nor has she raised a penny for McCain vs. "God Damn America" Obama.

James,

Van Tran will do what's right and he's loyal with his friends. Mimi's never been there for him. So there's no mutual debt or love lost there. This is just one election cycle. To be fair, Van and his team won their fair shares of elections.

A lot of criticisms against Van, likje yours, seems to stem from envy and jealousy more so than anything else. Tran is the only elected in the OC who has a semblance of a grass root operation. It's no surprise that he's getting pot shots from those who don't want him to be too powerful, or those who are jealous of him.

But knowing Van and how he operates over the years, he always compensate and turn negative energy into hard work and good net working. His operation will continue to be a force for a long time in Orange County.