CA: Issa backs Bilbray for Cunningham seat

San Diego Union Tribune ^ | 1/11/06 | Debbi Farr Baker

[NormsRevenge]

CARLSBAD – Rep. Darrell Issa said Wednesday morning that he was endorsing former Republican congressman Brian Bilbray and will serve as his campaign chairman in the race to replace disgraced Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham in the 50th District. Pointing out that his district, the 49th, is touched on all sides by the 50th, Issa, R-Vista, said he needs a partner in Washington D.C. who has the experience and integrity to get work done on behalf of the North County.

"When you are looking for someone who is trusted and proven and who has been in the arena and has been bloodied a bit you could not find a better person than Brian Bilbray," Issa said in a news conference at Maxton Brown Park on Laguna Drive, with the Buena Vista Lagoon as a backdrop.

Issa said Bilbray is a proven leader who has been at the forefront of on issues important to North County, such as illegal immigration.

Bilbray, who represented Imperial Beach in Congress from 1994-2000, authored the "birth-right" legislation that is part of the immigration reform package now being considered in Washington, Issa said

Bilbray said he was honored by Issa's endorsement and looked forward to his active participation in his campaign.

"Darrell Issa is a man who knows what need to be done in North County and San Diego and he knows what need to be done in Washington D.C," Bilbray said.

Bilbray also announced that Roxana Foxx, former chairwoman of the San Diego County Republican Party, would serve as a co-campaign finance chair.

Bilbray also picked up the endorsement of the Deputy Sheriff's Association of San Diego County from President Jim Duffy, who said that Bilbray would work on homeland security issues important to law enforcement.

Issa said Bilbray, if elected, will have more senority than he does in Washington and will be "first in line" for key personal, committees and even his choice of offices.

But that's Ok with Issa. "He will take the best he can, but he will do what is right for this district," Issa said.

Among the others in the race are two Democrats – Francine Busby and Chris Young – and six Republicans. The GOP candidates are state Sen. Bill Morrow, R-Oceanside; former Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian of San Marcos; former Del Mar mayor Richard Earnest; businessman Alan Uke of Del Mar and Ken King of Rancho Santa Fe.

Cunningham resigned in November after pleading guilty to conspiracy and tax-evasion charges stemming from his dealings with defense contractors. He is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 27.

The 50th Congressional District runs along the North County Coast from Carlsbad south to Del Mar and also includes the cities of San Marcos and Escondido as well as the neighborhoods of Rancho Santa Fe, University City, La Jolla and Rancho Bernardo.

[Impeach98]

Hello there.

Here we go - these are just a few overview citations. There are countless news stories, minutes from meetings/hearings/etc... that delves much deeper into this.

_______________________________________
On the downside, he'll have to counter the carpetbagger dig. Bilbray recently moved to Carlsbad, but his political career has been largely in the service of South Bay, not North County.

If he winds up as a front-runner, other candidates will repeatedly remind voters that then-Supervisor Bilbray was a principal architect of the calamitous trash-to-energy recycling plant in San Marcos, a debacle that, for the county, was the equal of the city of San Diego's pension disaster.

In the rubbish-filled days of the early '90s, Bilbray was not shy in expressing the opinion that North County was derelict in its regional duty to absorb its own trash.

A San Diego Union-Tribune database search of the words "Bilbray," "North County" and "trash" coughs up 200 stories. That's a lot of trash talk on the record.

SOURCE: San Diego Union Tribune - Logan Jenkins, December 3, 2005

_______________________________________
"Oh let me count the big-money boys: former congressman and supervisor Brian Bilbray, the man who thought North County was a good place to dump the county's trash;" Sizing up 50th's crowded field - J. Stryker Meyer - North County Times

_______________________________________
The most obvious case in point is North County activist Tom Erwin's struggle in the late 1980s to pull the plug on plans for the white elephant San Marcos trash-to-energy plant. Although armed with enough evidence to convince an O.J. jury that the plant would bankrupt the county, Erwin was dismissed by then-supervisor and plant crusader Brian Bilbray as a NIMBY who wanted to dump North County's trash in the South Bay. As late as last summer, when the trash system was clearly collapsing, now Congressman Bilbray continued to use the NIMBY Hypothesis to defend his project. Source: Lisa Ross - San Diego Daily Transcript, December 10, 1996

[b9]

Thanks a lot. I'll be very curious to hear the debates on Hedgecock,
and see how these reports get defended.

[AuH2ORepublican]

I read Barone's Almanac last night, and Issa ran as a pro-lifer right from the start. I don't know why I thought he was pro-choice.

However, I noticed that Issa had a very contentious, mudslinging GOP primary in 2000 for the 49th CD nomination with----State Senator Bill Morrow. So it shouldn't surprise anyone that he would endorse one of Morrow's primary opponents, although why Bilbray and not Kaloogian I have no idea.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Something about Issa has never struck me as quite right, just a gut feeling. I had forgotten that Morrow had been his primary opponent back 6 years ago. There was a lot of bad blood because Issa effectively bought the nomination out from under Morrow (nevermind the sleazy allegations Issa made).

[b9]

" why Bilbray and not Kaloogian I have no idea."

FWIW on the Hedgecock show a couple days ago, Issa said Bilbray's never shy'd away from tough fights. He admires his guts.

Gonna be a nasty fight these next few months.

[neightiesguy]

You need to check your facts. He voted FOR parental notification for an abortion, as well as a ban on partial birth, and a ban on transporting minors across state lines for the purposes of abortion. http://www.issues2000.org/CA/Brian_Bilbray.htm#Abortion

[bb1]

When reading take the goal of the writer into account --because nothing distorts truth like half of a lie??? --For example Bilbray pro-gay ????what a joke-- never before or since has the gay rights coalition spent what it did to defeat Bilbray in 1996 and 1998---if you mean does he talk to homosexuals --the answers gotta be yes---if he answers his phone [which he always does]---- especially since Hillcrest, SD's gay conclave was in his district.
AS to the NRA ---he has always backed the right to own a gun.
BUT-after a school shooting in san diego he voted for the ban on assault weapon's ---mothers were sending their children off to school wondering if they would come home. Sure it was a feel good piece of empty legislation, as was his picture with Bill Clinton signing it --but short of real action that both sides of the aisle refused[ like gun sniffing dogs unless they had union handlers] --what would you have a representative do. listen to the single issue advocacy groups or the mothers in his district???

[calcowgirl]

Really? How about this legislation he authored, with Kolbe as co-author?
Do you support the transgender full employment act too?
Bella Abzug... now those are some footsteps to follow!

The Advocate (The national gay & lesbian newsmagazine), June 11, 1996 n709 p43(1)
Protect yourself. (new legislation to protect gay employment rights) Rich Tafel.

Abstract: California Rep. Brian Bilbray has proposed a bill aimed at ending antigay job discrimination. No bill has yet been passed that protects the rights of gays in the workplace. The 1964 Civil Rights Act sponsored by Rep. Bella Abzug failed to include gays into the protected class.

[calcowgirl]

As to 2nd Amendment Rights, I will defer to Gun Owners of America Ratings of Congress. Here is Bilbray's record:

• 105th Congress     D

• 106th Congress      F-

• 1998                       F

• 2000                      F

[calcowgirl]

I forgot. Here is their definition of ratings:

GOA House Ratings

A+ Pro-Gun Leader: introduces pro-gun legislation.
A & A- Pro-Gun Voter: philosophically sound.
B & B- Pro-Gun Compromiser: generally leans our way.
C & C- Leans Our Way: occasionally.
D & D- Leans Anti-Gun: usually against us.
F Anti-Gun Voter: a philosophically committed anti-gunner.
F- Anti-Gun Leader: outspoken anti-gun advocate who carries anti-gun legislation.
NR Not rated: Refused to answer his or her questionnaire; no track record.

[bb1]

another environmental surfer ??? has he ever been another of anything ???---is that why Donna FRye and lori SAldana have gained careers out of attacking him on environmental issues for the last 20 years??? is he just an environmentalists ???? yes he is. WE all are unless we are fools. but there is a big difference between the 3 types- real ,histerical and political. The attacks of Bilbray all have one common strain--- if you listen to ALL of your constituents and really solve problems, eventually you will have gotten on the wrong side of every single issue advocacy group there is [200,000 at last count ]..they all make money as long as their issue is never solved; be it by compromise or by reality vs opportunistic political hysteria-----If you want a representative who listens to the powerful special interests again [and their not all in defence industry clothing]-- instead of you --don't vote for him--

[dalereed]

"why Bilbray and not Kaloogian I have no idea."

Because he's a POS RINO!

He's also a defender of Hisbolla (sp) saying they are a peaceful charitable organization.

I only wish someone was running against Issa so I would have someone to vote for.

[bb1]

27% of Brian Bilbrays old 49th district was in the present 50th--come to think of it were where all the loyal conservatives then.
The picture with Clinton was the signing of the assult weopons ban --try and remember the SAntana shootings and mothers wondering if the kids they sent to school would be returning. Although Brian and others proposed meaningful legislation [like gun sniffing dogs] eventually all that was left to anyone attempting to consider those mothers fears was a feel good inconsequential assult weapons bill.
If it took having a picture takien with a con -so be it --those mothers are his constituents the NRA is not.although the anti-gun lobby spent a ton to defeat him

[bb1]

so the ACU defines what a conservative is ???? take me off the list --because if any man agrees with you on everything --he is a liar for darn sure.

[bb1]

Some day an intelligent economist like you should figure that we need to call the lefts bluff and say we will double the minimum wage AS LONG AS no other wages tied to it through union contracts go up a like percentage .
----the increase in the minimum wage does little harm compared to the same percent of increase being applied to a 60 dollar an hour auto worker.
the little guy after inflation and moving into a higher tax bracket probably has less disposable income.
Bilbray has learned that we shouldn't assume every issue is ours or their's -- single issue advocates would like it to stay that way forever.
maybe your certainty of thought inhibits an ability to know that most valuable of things--what you don't know

[fieldmarshaldj]

Interesting that pandering to the left still couldn't guarantee him another term in Congress.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"so the ACU defines what a conservative is ????"

It looks at key votes and determines how liberal or Conservative an individual member of Congress is, yes. You'll tend to find that the numbers correspond perfectly with liberal group counterparts... meaning if a Conservative Republican earns like a 90 from the ACU, they'll earn around a 10 from the AC"L"U. It may not be 100% on the money, but they'll be able to help identify the bad guys.

And, BTW, who says we all agree on everything ?

[fieldmarshaldj]

I like pizzas that cost $100, how about you ?

It's very easy for big-hearted politicians and those without a clue about basic economics (that being nearly all liberals and all Democrats) to wax poetic about raising the minimum wage and how it will "help" those at the bottom of the economic ladder, when all it serves to do is to drive up the costs of goods and services and puts people and businesses out of work. Let's let the government stay out of the business of screwing with the minimum wage. And just one final point, remember that minimum wage is just that... minimum... a starting point... not the maximum.

[calcowgirl]

Newbie trolls for Bilbray.
GO GREEN!