We’re supposed to be mellow in Southern California, especially in the sun-bleached confines of San Diego. What’s there to be upset about in the best climate you could possibly ask for?
Plenty.
Locals had all sorts of things to say in 2012, and lots of their comments were far from warm and sunny.
Here’s a look at the quotes that stood out the most.
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That Jerk! Er, Please Vote for Him, Thanks
Presto … “He probably takes credit for my weight loss; he probably takes credit for the weeds I pulled in the backyard last week. It’s all bullshit.” — Then-Mayor Jerry Sanders back in May, expressing fury at Councilman Carl DeMaio’s claims about restoring the city to financial health.
Change-o … “I think Carl is somebody who I believe will carry on what we started with reform. Who will carry on what we started with financial stability.” — Sanders endorsing DeMaio for mayor in September.
Next thing you know, Sanders is going to be back-tracking on his well-known appreciation for beer.
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I Won’t, I Tell You! I Won’t!
“Get a life.” — U-T CEO John Lynch’s response when asked why the newspaper hadn’t gotten the proper permits for a car museum it built in its Mission Valley office building.
I’d rather get a car museum.
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Filner Sets Marriage Back a Century
“As a heterosexual person who’s been married, you can take quite a cynical view of marriage and wonder why would you want to — the last one took all my money; all my property. I mean if it doesn’t work out; then you’ve got to get divorced. As someone who’s been divorced a couple of times — and I don’t mean to make light of it — but … why would you want this?” — Mayor Bob Filner on marriage.
I won’t tell his fiancee (yes, he has one) about this quote if you won’t.
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What Lies Beneath
“If a helicopter can look surprised, this one did.” — Writer Justin Hudnall, a witness to the now-infamous late-night water-gun fight in Balboa Park that damaged the area around the lily pond.
He’s describing a police helicopter that apparently flew over a large crowd at the park at about 1:30 a.m.
You know what they say: The early “bird” gets the mob.
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Whose East County Is It, Anyway?
“From the looks of this book, one would think that East County is populated mainly by rednecks, racists, illegal immigrants, poor white trash, hookers, and gun-toting gangbangers. … Why no images of Santee Lakes, or the many fine new parks and sports facilities, new homes and shopping, or community celebrations in Santee?” — Miriam Raftery, editor of East County Magazine, on an art project about the region called “The Far East Project: Everything Just As It Is.”
Yes, you never, ever hear anything about new homes and shopping centers. Please give them more attention!
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Manchester Unplugged
“I like to toast people and to look at what’s right and good in San Diego and maybe not what’s negative.” — Manchester, on his attitude.
“I think that Bob Filner is a bad congressman and he’s a bad guy.” — Manchester to one of his paper’s own reporters.
Is he living up to his positive attitude? Negative.
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You Shouldn’t Have. No Really. You Shouldn’t Have
“I have 80 percent of inmates that would vote for you. They might not be able to but their extended families will.”— Former Rep. Duke Cunningham, one of the most disgraced congressmen of all time, in a jailhouse letter to presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich.
Ex-congressmen really do have a special bond, don’t they?
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Well, the First Two Letters in GOP Are ‘GO’
“I’ve been a Republican my entire life.” — Assemblyman and mayoral candidate Nathan Fletcher, March 10.
“Today I’m leaving the Republican Party, becoming an independent.” — Fletcher, March 28, after the local GOP refused to endorse him.
I’d like to mention once again that Fletcher is from a town in Arkansas called — I’m not making this up — Smackover.
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Guess Who Won’t Be Named Ambassador to Anything, Ever
“I respectfully decline to cooperate in any way with what I consider to be an enemy of the United States. The People’s Republic of China is a repressive and evil communist regime that runs a police state. I fought in Vietnam to stop communism and will fight communism until the day I die. Please accept me as a very determined enemy, as I assume you to be to me.” — Santee Mayor Randy Voepel, writing to a Chinese person who asked for his autograph.
Suggested motto: “Santee: The Friendliest Place on Earth (Except for All the Other Places).”
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Please contact Randy Dotinga directly at randydotinga@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter: twitter.com/rdotinga.
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