California Democratic Convention and Ralph Denney

The latest installment of CityBeat's election column, Turds & Blossoms, wherein we rate campaigns and candidates and award them turds or blossoms for their latest foibles and triumphs.

Dem-Con

The California Democratic Party descended on the San Diego Convention Center and the Hilton San Diego Bayfront for its annual convention last weekend.

A few quick ’uns:

A dozen daffodils to Steve Clute, a state Senate candidate in Riverside County, for reminding us that Comic- Con is only five months away by having a volunteer don a gorilla suit and hold a sign reading, “I forgot to shave but I’m voting for Steve Clute.” He won the party’s endorsement, the Press-Enterprise reported, despite last-minute opposition from Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg.

We sling poo-poo at whoever placed the Monopoly-themed attack literature against Los Angeles City Councilmember Richard Alarcon next to the ketchup and mustard at the pretzel stand. It’s not that we like Alarcon, who was indicted in 2010 on perjury and voter-fraud charges; we just think it was lazy.

A bucket of shit goes to Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom for holding his “Voices for Higher Education” party at Stingaree. See "Shot on Scene."

Delusional Denney

Republican Assembly candidate Ralph Denney’s invitation to a Feb. 16 campaign fundraiser in La Jolla begins with this adage: “Definition of insanity: Doing the same thing, over and over again, and expecting different results.” He’s referring to Sacramento and his belief that Californians are nuts if they think that reelecting Democrats will fix the economy.

Apparently, the irony is wasted on Denney. In 2006, Denney ran for Assembly and lost. In 2008, he ran and lost. In 2010 he ran and lost. And here he is once more, this time running for the new 78th District seat and, we presume, thinking he can achieve a different result against incumbent Toni Atkins in a district where Democrats have a 13-percent registration edge over Republicans.

That isn’t the only mixed message in his invitation.

There’s also: “I have one focus. One message. My goal is to hone in like a lazer-beam on jobs, the economy and the budget.” Any Kindergartener will tell you that’s three things, however interconnected. Also, it's "home in" and "laser." We’ll issue Denney 50 turds to match the $50 minimum donation for his event.

Email davem@sdcitybeat.com or follow Turds & Blossons on Twitter @turdsblossoms.