Back in the day Frank Curran was a Democratic mayor you're fairly moderate or conservative by today's standards I suspect but I remember Frank Curran and then we had Maureen O'Connor and we went a long time without a Democratic mayor I was impressed with the cultural aspects of Marine O'Connor's agenda she brought the Soviet Exhibit No one shot deal to the United States we had for the better part of several months we had the ongoing Soviet exhibition in San Diego with multi faceted she seemed to be kind of and she she like me came out of North Park she was a I think an educator in her youth and then she met up with Mr Peterson and became more of a new Democrat for lack of a better term a more of a corporate Democrat in the Clinton mold I thought she provided some affective leadership in the time at the time and of course we had a recent chapter with very poor a very progressive Democratic mayor for the 1st time maybe in San Diego's history in Bob Filner but Bob imploded and I think there were certain characteristics of Bob that. Would. Play out regardless I don't think that history could have been written differently given certain characteristics in his personality and I think that has set back the Democratic Party locally for at least a generation that experience what about some of the other Democrats people like Lucy Calais or. Their elected officials Yeah there are a you know San Diego has been waxing more progressive but at a time when it was a moderate or even right of center city there were Democrats that were still successful and I think of Lucy Calais or Lucy collapse and of course she changed her party and she left the Democratic Party and when she became an Independent I think she did that for pragmatic reasons if I recall there was a new just 20 dead he was another Democrat had a from the southwest party what he data he used to say remember what it what he did to do today. And I think his son is currently a judge if I'm not mistaken on the Superior Court we've had some terrific Democrats I remember Lionel Ventura one who was my congressman in Center City San Diego in years 9 years interest he played to he played the point to Bob Wilson's counterpoint the All we had to Bob Wilson's in San Diego a Democrat in a Republican but I'm thinking old Bob Wilson the congressman senator Mills was a Major James Carville's I currently live in Mission Hills and I live right around the corner from the house he grew up in and ironically the plaques I see in a lot of homes in my neighborhood he founded the he has a real sense of history as a former history teacher and he created the mills Act which preserves a lot of our old homes Larry Kaplow off early demagoguery remember Kapell off in the seventy's the assembly line to the right of miracle worker and then Mike Michael. Who was on the city council and passed away early in his life shaver no. No it was my I don't think if it was a Democrat or right now now that I think about my one party he was he represented the beach area gosh I can't off my God they're my God God got you my God Was it had there were a lot of high hopes for him when I was a poly sci student say he was date we brought him out to speak he had just gotten elected to the city council and expectations were this guy could run for anything even Governor just seemed like a very very very attractive candidate Yes What happened to him. But did he go did he get into state government we have here moved out of town and we have to yeah Ok so now we had the most recent you know we now have a Republican mayor back in San Diego. Tell me about politics in San Diego What are the issues in San Diego city government in county government and well 1st off I would say San Diego is still probably the city the country's largest Republican leaning city you know we have a history of electing what I call Republicans in the people Wilson mode they tend to be urban Republicans not not rural they tend to be in other words they tend to be more progressive or at least moderate on social issues and sometimes the environment but they tend to be pretty much down the line Republicans on economic issues and anti-union and all that stuff and I think following are absolutely fits that mold so from that standpoint he's a good fit for the city at least historically. He plays vanilla to the multi flavored Filner if you understand my meaning in the words he's he's fairly there's I could be any surprises I guess that if I if I used to purge or to be dull. Just so you got to say knowing is easy he's he's stable but Sandy again like Bill apparently we do I mean we like these these these predictable moderate Republicans that are still right of center on fiscal issues and will tackle the unions the city unions and you know that that's a big what do they do I mean he's supported by the Police Officers Association and they're the probably the most powerful one of the more powerful city and you know if I'm not mistaken he also got the endorsement of the white collar city workers union a real professional or association it's a union anyways so you know we'll see if that holds you know he's got this election coming up again and I think he's going to be fairly moderate until that election because he knows he's in a century a city now more liberal than it used to be but how about in terms of the way you know that candidates don't. Raise the money anymore it's the money is spent by the organizations what he and the Democrats are probably of either party were the most guilty of doing that what are your feelings about that outside money not well you know the words the it used to be were a candidate would go and raise money right and then spend the money on their campaign right in the last election you had the Labor candidate his most of his money was spent by the organization in what they call the independent expenditures the death of the Republicans did as well right but the Democrats his numbers were much much higher what how do you feel about that well you know I suspect that's part of the George Will the conservative columnist says that. Money in politics equates to free speech in politics there is a sacred court would go that for you certainly they did in Citizens United. I got a good idea I think what scares me about money and politics is after they're elected not when they're trying to run I think you can watch a commercial for a candidate you don't like a 1000 times and you record a vote for him if you wouldn't have voted for him after 100 of those commercials but when they get elected and behind the scenes bills are being drafted by lobbies bills are being drafted by industries you know a lot of people don't understand that congressmen in Washington that are introducing legislation they didn't write it it's written by some private interest group that hands it off to their allies in Congress but that money scares me more than the campaign commercials that most voters are intelligent enough to see through but if you if Ok so the question though is that the campaigns themselves are not run by the candidates to run by. An organization that decides to get behind someone and they can run a dirty campaign in the candidate himself could say you know I told them to back off I have nothing to do with that they're independent and they're running these these hit pieces against my my opponent and I don't agree with those so yeah there is this little good cop bad cop Well that is distasteful but it but in this instance it wasn't just that I mean the actual campaign ads were mostly the positive ads were paid for by the the one of the candidates it was the unions the public unions came together and they basically put together the campaign for the candidate and ran all those ads and with the idea that the candidate pretty much spoused. Right down the party line of what the unions wanted in this particular case and others what do you think about that is that it was is that the idea that that you drowned out all of their voices is that something that is a positive in your mind or you don't see that as a risk or what it what is your feeling. Well I think that we as citizens in that here's the old government teacher coming out I think we as citizens interface with the political system with the institutional process of politics as well as the extra legal aspect of politics that includes party I think we interface in many different ways we interface as individuals when we vote or when we send in a con campaign contribution but we also as an interface as parts of groups whether they be professional organizations like the realtors or labor unions in my case it was the c.t.a. California Teachers Association. The the in the Nurses Association except we interface on many different levels and I think that is legitimate and I don't I don't have a problem with people having multiple points of contact with the system whether it be the political parties or even the institutional aspect you're listening to an astute talk of a town and let's go a little further then should there be any campaign disclosure laws at all. I would probably see campaign limits erased if we could in exchange have full to full disclosure let's know who's putting the money out but why why have any white why have any campaign lost because I think we're entitled to see who is putting out a message for the voters to consume. But can you really do that now. I think I think we have a patchwork a patchwork sort of a system a quilt where some of the money is is very well hidden and other aspects we can find it really really in the summer completely here you had Bonnie Dumanis taking money from you know illegal money from Mexico Nomen given carrots and I wonder I think if people had known that and maybe that's the fault of the local media for not bringing the you that that was brought out and she lost I mean she would if it was it was brought out before she ran for d.a. Again over and over again on Election Day How many voters actually had heard that story well let's put it this way all the all the insiders that supported her all the Democrats that supported her all the elected officials that were Democrats who supported Bonnie Dumanis a Republican they had all heard it and it didn't make any difference to them. Yeah and that's a shame but I mean that's the whole that's what cannibal now there's Why have any if If what we're going to do is basically as Democrats adopt the concept that. The freedom of expression is based primarily on how much money you have doesn't that then mean that we're not a society of equals it is that mean that it's not we really don't have equality really just have. The same political system is just the same as our economic system where ever has the most money wins Well unfortunately even if you take money out of the equation we still don't have a level playing field because in among the electorate or the potential electorate information level varies greatly participation varies greatly somebody who is well to do and doesn't have to work has all day on Tuesday to vote or the weeks prior to send in their vote were somebody a single mom working 2 jobs has less time to vote so whatever you do now you're still going to have an on right that's what I'm saying so why do anything might I just let my not just do away with all the campaign laws and just have elections and whoever gets the most votes on election night I'd be all for last. I'd like to know who's contributing to candidates or contributing to these independent commercials that sway our o. Pinion without endorsing a candidate I'd like to know who's behind that money or did you know who was behind that money in the in the say in the last mayor's race I kept reading the Lincoln Club was. Up a great deal of money and Manchester and company were heading up a great deal of money for Faulkner How about on the other side I knew that it was a lot of wealthy Democratic donors. And average Democratic donors and certainly the unions went went full force for Alvarez What was the what was the proportionality you think. In terms of how much one candidate versus the other spent well how much of the special interest groups that you just mentioned. Versus individual contributors I would say both candidates probably receive. If I had to guess off the top of my head 3 quarters or more of their money from from big interest group now when you when you get elected then then your perspective is what then if you've if you've now been elected by all these you know narrow special interests you know that the public unions or or the Chamber of Commerce then when you get elected then who are you going to serve or you're serving their agenda I don't know if money given during a campaign buys a vote but I do know it buys $1.00 thing for sure and that's called accessibility if I voted for candidate a or even sent in $20.00 I can pick up the phone and ask for a luncheon meeting the next week where is the major contributors can do that it will and that excess ability that ability to reach the now elected officials here is a huge amount of power you have the ability then to influence that person when the candidate runs the candidates like for example both candidates said they wanted to pay more money for the police because they didn't want to keep losing police officers and that was picking up on the spin the pieces the police officers put out even though Let's say that they had the best benefits of probably any certainly any workers in San Diego have. But yet they all espouse that because they wanted that support or they wanted the you talked about reforming the public pensions the response was well even if we're even though we've lost all the pensions for everybody in the future and even though the future people are going to have to pay for the excesses of today we're not willing to do that because we're going to argue it in terms of it's not fair to the workers it's and so you saw during the campaign you start to see the the policies laid out that the candidates are espousing and you see a close correlation to who is paying for their for their campaigns. It does what Ok Is that a promise University AIG or the chicken may be the money is following what the candidates are saying originally and they're supporting those that represent their interests I think one hand washes the other they shape each other as more money comes in the politicians views get shaped. So I think but I still maybe I'm naive but I still believe people run for public office on both sides of the spectrum thinking they're looking out for the interests of quote the average people of the entire community and you know you see that actually working out you know the rich you see have we made any progress in San Diego for the average person I think you know I think San Diego at one time was called the New Orleans of the West and that was not meant to be a compliment it was referring to the corruption when I was young going back to Mayor Curran's regime I remember the mayor in the whole city hall being paraded down to the police station and being booked on charges of collecting money under the table I think at that time it was called the Yellow Cab scandal and there was a guy named Pratt who apparently was giving money to Democrats and Republicans alike it was a prosecution then right there was Have there been a now or there hasn't been for a while we had one at the federal level with with Duke with Randy Duke Cunningham but that was the u.s. Attorney's office is there enough going on you know I'm maybe I shouldn't call out somebody by name was a current office holder but I will I think Bonnie Germanicus who endorses candidates and yet she is the district attorney well how do you endorse a candidate election time and then have to come back and prosecute them and you're falling on your sword in many that you've made a mistake all the Democrats can't do it there's a conflict of interest there but all the Democrats after she let's take it a step further she was at the home of a person who made illegal campaign contributions to her campaign yes which she had to know were coming from someone that was not a citizen based upon at least the reports that took place while she was accepting the campaign who prosecutes the prosecutor but here's the thing but but Tony has been supporting her. Alvarez supported her all the Democrats I think on the city council supported her. Many of the other Democratic elected officials supported her so how do you how do you square that up you know we had a we had a candidate I believe her name was Mrs Green or Ms going the candidate there ran against her No No There was a guy that ran against her but I'm not sure that's right Ok Brewster. Brewer Mr Brewer ran against her I'm confusing McAtee think another other which I was there and there was another woman that ran against it within Iraq was but yes good right Ok so we and you know what I thought Bob Brewer put together a fantastic. Campaign and but what I'm going back to it was a little surprised by the margin of victory right but see that's this go back to but the Democrats supported someone now there's corruption doesn't seem to make a difference to the Democratic Party right now and I certainly we know it doesn't make a difference the Republicans many times you know and I do that but the Democrats are in control of the state of California and the Democrats are in control of many of the offices in San Diego do you see that as a problem or do you think that that's not an issue it's no big deal it is a problem and it wiggles away our ability to choose between distinct choices you know there's at every level of government there's a governing class there's one in Washington there's one in Sacramento and there's one is saying you know as well explain that to us what do you think governing class means that once you go once you pass through the turnstiles and you get elected you're now part of a fairly exclusive club and you tend to have more in common with other club members across party lines than you do with the average party member who elected you who is going to there 40 hour a week work a day job outside their civilians or outside of government you're now part of an exclusive club Bill Clinton and George w. George h. Bush George w. Bush in that 1st campaign I remember the bitter blood between them well as soon as Clinton became a 2 term president now they're best buddies Bill Clinton has passed through the turnstile. And there's a governing class that you see playing out between there they're like it's that all grown man is going on between these 2 well he's more like a dad to leave then he has to his own Wow let's not say that Aaron is here not as awful about parents here talking to us as an educator very active in the San Diego Democratic Party does raise an excellent point about when him and ask him to elaborate a little further talks about the governing class here in San Diego How does that how does that work out well there institutional interests once they get elected basically have at the top of the heap of that list of priorities or getting reelected and if they can all kind of Washington others hands and slap each other on the back in form of mutual admiration society then you know as long as somebody is in a way not they're not extract them on the left or the right they can all sort of get along and they can all sort of say well the other person is doing a good job and I stand by them and it actually makes them look good in a you know moderate city like San Diego to be able to quote reach across party lines it makes you look like you're a believer in good government as opposed to being a party hack so they can even claim that by by Democrats supporting body Doumanis or body to man a supporting the occasional Democrat you look like somebody who places the good of the people of both parties and policy leverage that is what you're saying is that is that making progress actually getting things done is less important then the parents of a working social relationship well winds up serving the status quo when everybody gets along and it's kind of a happy. Sort of homogenize middle of the political spectrum we like it officials who do have power kind of all get along they preserve the status quo I mean the Dark Ages now are we and in other words Jane Jacobs would say you know. People have lost the memory of what. It was like to have good government and that's different than having you know bad versus good and I appreciate that Mike thank you President I mean do you think we are we not aware I mean are we in a is this you know of a different kind of a different nature or are we just going through a transition period where are we right now in San Diego politics I think a lot in San Diego politics and I think on both sides of the aisle people are afraid to make enemies they're afraid to make loud enemies and it they want to seem to cater they want to seem to be able to cater to everybody enough that they neutralize vocal opposition the f.d.r. For example you know we're talking about the federal government was willing to make enemies in war the you know as they say war there scorn as a badge of honor I don't think anybody locally wants to do that Democrat or Republican I think Susan Davis in Congress wants to look like she gets along with everybody and I think that applies to fall can or it didn't apply to Bob Filner but I think a lot of these folks in government locally just don't want to appear to make vocal they don't they don't want to make vocal enemies they want to seem like they're good government people and they kind of are creating what's called consensus government meaning we're not going to do anything to rock the boat you know Woodrow Wilson said we have to reform the Democratic Party in order to reform the nation. And do you think we're back there you think that we have to reform the Democratic Party before the Democratic Party can reform the nation Yeah the Democratic Party now is at a low ebb at least nationally with being in a small minority in both chambers now even when they might as well have actually gone out and fight for something they would have any worse off I mean it's hard to believe the look look you had in Kentucky Well we got Hillary in 2630 here got Alison Grimes in Kentucky who couldn't even admit she voted for Obama even though she was an Obama delegate at the last Democratic convention and she lost big and she was bigger than the some of the other Democrats considered by Obama. It was a fatal mistake and she might have lost anyways course Obama plays that same game of self he runs away from anybody or anything that doesn't make him look at he seems a little more consistent he's a more consistent recognizable Democrat is he becoming a better president I think he is because he's becoming confrontational you know he doesn't have anything to lose he's as he pointed out in his State of the Union he doesn't he's not going to run against what happened to him why why did he go many people feel you know off the Democratic Party track into basically taking on many of George Bush's advisors and George Bush's policy you know I got to tell you I give I give Obama more credit than a lot of people do now we have to remember we have a short memory sometimes when he got elected there was a Democratic Congress and he really pushed in his heart I think he was for single payer health care even pushed for that but he did push for what's called the public option he really pushed for that his White House pushed for that when they drafted that bill in Congress and in Congress when they came up with the version of the Affordable Care Act It didn't include a public option I think Obama's been to the left of Congress all the time even his own Democratic whip did he make a mistake backing George Bush's. Person in. To make him secretary treasurer Geithner did in adopting all of Bush's policies on the bailout and all of his policies centrally on the war in Iraq in the war in Afghanistan I think time will tell. Certainly the. You know the bailout is a tough issue and there it's mired in so much minute didn't have special talents is a tough issue it's hard we know the history that was played out with the passage of that we don't know the alternative history what would have been how tentative what would been if we would listen we were told by both parties at the time that the entire recall worldwide economy was going to go was virtually hours away from a meltdown there's no was their prediction right in order to get what they wanted. Right it was that good that it was a trillion dollar bailout was that was that good judgment in his call to go for that to say what might happen if he didn't give them everything they wanted in that extension I I don't know what the alternative history would have been had to get it had we not what it would have resulted in the many of those banks going bankrupt right Ok it always worked for me I would always shoot high and settle for something lower so would wouldn't it have been good of Obama to draw upon the experience of f.d.r. Who had the same exact problem even much worse there were the it was but it was a prediction of what might happen where in the case of f.d.r. He actually had the banks you know bank holiday when he was sworn in and he actually figured out how to reorganize and how it would not have been better for America to to defund the corrupt banks and start again and allow the Democrats to rebuild the economy I think Obama came in with a left of status quo sort of agenda where he recognized he wanted enough continuity that the system looked like the old system but yet on the left hand margin of it in other words a more liberal interpretation of the status quo you know what I'm saying is just about the bailout and I pay a lot feeds into that part of the talked about he has maintained structures he had well maintained a structure that was shown to have been corrupt though now there is if he would have not done that like f.d.r. Who was pressured by Hoover and f.d.r. Resisted and said No I'm not going to do that it's your problem until I get there he then could've had more options in terms of rebuilding or no do you think you think that that's what it was the proper thing to do was was whatever George the policies of George Bush had established it was the wisest course for Obama just to adopt those and make those his policies as well hours after Obama was sworn in McConnell told his Republican caucus we will do everything we can to defeat this guy will never stand with them we're never going to give him a victory I think Obama always acted from the position. I need to Main I need you I need to Maine maintain my relevancy I need to retain relevancy as ever more well he controlled the House and both houses at that point in 2010 this miserable loss of the House of Representatives and then it was really about remaining relevant so I think he was always thinking about we're going to have one foot in the status quo and one foot in our reform minded effort so the so the continuation of George Bush's policy was just how would you care to look at the gate scene he kept Gates on so there was this attempt to maintain some continuity maybe to call the American people you got Obama was it has been in a very unique position here's this guy with a foreign father multi-racial president for the 1st time in history a president who has black heritage the guy with the middle name of Hussein he came in to the White House for many many Americans is a very scary guy and he Obama was conscious of this and he felt like for in his particular case especially he needed some continuity was he then wanted not to scare off the people in Iowa was he the wrong person then no I think look at it look at what I'm trying to be has been he's been extraordinarily effective I wish we had the public option I actually wish we had single payer that it wasn't even on the that can even make it to to the subcommittee I wish we wish we had a more ambitious program that got implemented I wish we had all been effective I wish we had some more time because we certainly have enjoyed your contribution today and excellent presentation and this is Cain s.j. Talk of the town remember go on the Web site the Cain estate website sign up give us your support this is the kind of programming that you hopefully Fiore's giving you the information to make better decisions and to be more active in our democracy and thank you for joining and thank you for joining us on Talk of the town with former San Diego city attorney Michael Geary. Descanso 89 point one f.m. . And streaming live a k n a straight on toward search and us Jay is home to east county magazine where host Miriam Raftery will keep you informed about what is happening here be sure to tune in Monday and Friday afternoons at 5 serving San Diego from high atop monument peak in the Laguna mountains where k n s j broadcasting live at 89 point one f.m. Online it k n s j dot org And streaming live on your smartphone using the tune in radio the sound of social justice t n s j 89 point one This got stuff the views expressed on k n s j are those of the hosts guests on callers and are not necessarily those of the station it's donors members management or underwriters. a curator and John Baker and the president. I'm sitting here looking at a picture of Donald King. Tax evader. Mohamed Ali could not stand down again. Holding his hand with all these holding Donald Trump's hand up in the air. With all the. Red white and blue. Tyo and Donald cane and I'm just saying to myself that is going to be elected president according to I don't care what true false questions Professor Lichtman distinguished professor American University has that just sounds like you know it's that is a that is a. That is a reflection on both our country and. On the candidate Hillary Clinton but let me ask this question. How much of that is people don't want to say Don't trust a woman to be president. You're asking me yeah. They has and they do if they have a woman I think I mean you know I'm I'm looking at the picture that you are talking of that is reach out to African-Americans and by the way I'm going up in the polls with the African-Americans because it's been horrible with the Obama administration has done absolutely nothing for the African-Americans and I will fix it I will you fix this you fix it you know you fix it brigade g.k. Sure you fix it by undermining the 1st African-American president in the history of the United States now a. Complete disaster. Where you know. We had something to say about Donald King after the fight in concession was gone again. Donald King. Donald King Donald King and Donald Trump so are were watching this is because you know I'm just thinking about Don Don King ever watching Ali in the 8th round I know it's a thrill because I've seen this so many times when my happiest is my life when Ali was in the corner and were watching for me just you know just trying to pound away on our lead and punch and I was so fall and he just you know rope in the dope and him and and you know there's a shot Ali got a shot in and there were in the 8th round there kind of dancing around in the corner and Ali making the making Foreman missed on a couple by the way Hillary never hit me with a shot and then and you know so. What we're talking about here is Donald Kane let's Don King we want to and Ali just a couple more times just peppering Foreman and you know they thought foreman was going to kill Ali And so Don King you know who was supposed to be an alley guy you know. Switch. And went with you know it's sort of like if you you know if you wanted to you know get. You know if you wanted to be a smart better you probably would have bet on on John King but now the point is that our lead. After the fight. You know and you know Ali was considered past is his prime and Don King was one of the promoters and you know Don King turned out to be not a very nice person and. You know to have to have someone resurfaced on King. And you know as if he is you know. You know somehow a good representative no one saying he's a good representative everybody's made mistakes in life but he understands what I'm trying to do with the African Americans and we're going to make it great with people like him will help to make it safe again and more productive again and bring more jobs which is badly badly needed to the African Americans and our country well let me just tell you this Donna if you don't win. You know John King will be forgetting you know your telephone number Ok so just don't be taking too much credit and that's a kind of you know Don King didn't have a whole lot of places to go but when I when I'm talking about here there was we were trying to get back into is you know we were just going through the prediction you know this sort of crazy idea that you can predict who's going to win based on you know x. Number of. Criteria as if you know that is the you know this brilliant distinguished professor from American University like we're going to ask you something here if I lose my temper but in there if I lose my temper am I finished or do you think you know the deplorable is will still vote for me no I think I think again again again again again again you just you just raised a really good point. You have going for you is you have the ability to connect with people. And most of the time to bring out their darker side to connect with the racism the simple. You know crooked Hillary line Ted you know making fun of people play the way he enjoys me yesterday just seen and I saw that yeah and you know we talked about that before about vicious abstractions where you have strapped someone into a single concept and then make it as if that's all they are and you're so you're good at 20 people down I have a good side to me you know I mean I hear you when you have like today I feel very melancholy because I'm remembering my good friend Douglas Holbrook Well that's 280 years ago yes people don't know that there's a good friend of mine well you know the thing about Douglas Holbrooke is I wish he were here right now to help with this interview because. I would never want to say for Douglas my dear brother but not sure that he would have characterize you guys as good friends or not doesn't mean to be any insult to you because Roe is happy to have you on the show but I think you know he helped me with legal problems I had back in 99 Well let's talk about that. Let's talk just talk to us about that what happened well I was I was in a national park and I accidentally killed a bald eagle. That's right so what it what it what did what it Douglas did help you well he he just pled out that it was just an honest mistake. And you know in front of the doctor you did he talk to you on the phone about it he did we talked many times on the phone and he was very helpful. Well you know Douglas passed away September 30th September 24th team. He was the founder and the host of the show. He was kind enough to allow me to join with him. He also hosts are so called perspectives a nationally syndicated radio program and legally speaking of legal advice our you know that's the one I used that's when you were on you know Doug was. This is the thing but I did Doug was an interesting alum of San Diego State because he. And his and his friends. Including Bill. They would at night at the dorms at San Diego State in the mid sixty's and of course George Gordon I was going to say George Gordon. And a bunch of others and they would sit around and they would they would you know. Douglas was a could play the guitar and write music and build it as well and they would sit around late into the evening and talk politics and write songs and you know just sort of had a tremendous camaraderie and they were you know some Republicans some are Democrats but it was all during the the war time so it was a special time at San Diego State. And. And when I say Bill I mean you know Bill Driscoll of course who's one of the producers of this show and they had a life long relationship in Douglas. You know he told the so many great stories about how he and George Gordon were able to escape. The opportunity to go to Vietnam they were able to thank you but I think we'll go ahead and take a pass on that as all other students were doing at the time for the most part. Including George w. Bush. Because people realized oh my gosh we're just going over there were expendable but we don't have a purpose anymore for being there were just there and so. Douglas formed this and forged these relationships that lasted a lifetime and then Douglas went on to law school and he he became a well known criminal defense attorney had some really so big celebrated cases you know front page cases here in San Diego he took up a beautiful home over at your Babbo park in Irving Gill beautiful overkill home and he converted that into an office and a home and then we that's where we broadcasted from for you know you know he broadcasted from there for a long time and he and I did for about a year. And of course Jim Brewster also very close with and John Baker the President's was pretty voice of the president's very close and we just had a fabulous time we just had fun our programs were fun I had I had no idea what my point of view was by the time we got done with the program I could I didn't know any more I thought Ok wait a minute I started on this side you started on that side I'm not taking your position you're taking my position and we're both mad at each other why or why because we're both vehemently a spouse in the other guy's point of view what this is terrible why should we have a program of people actually listen to change their minds this is this is wrong but we had a certain kind of chemistry he was so much fun you know I'd bring up some remote part of American history and he'd. See that throw it a Jackson and. Give you a Julius Caesar you know and he would he would bring up some even more Ramona course he was professor at San Diego State and he had 2 beautiful daughters and others you know. He was funny. He was fine he was hysterical John give me a little bit give me a little bit of Douglas Holbrook Ok you know just a little bit of you know Hey John how do you know what John I'd like to talk to you call you have to get some on my what he wanted to talk about and then we are back. On perspectives. But now you guys were next door not next door neighbors but they was right right we were neighbors neighbors and I had $100.00 and sometimes you guys would pull little pranks at each other right and we did you like what like what kinds of things would you well this one incident he put a toilet outside to be picked up and. Yes front of his house and typical Douglas My son and a couple of friends added something and I was. So I got a phone call and it went something like this. John. The stud lists and I go. Hey Doug I don't I. Did your son and maybe a friend. Something to the toilet I. Did you know I don't I don't mind jokes but But what was put on the toilet was was was pretty but you know but we did did you know what had been done. Sent fessed up to death. You know I had to you had to kind of I had to go toe to say John did you go over there. So then what do you say but Douglas. I don't mind having juice but you know fecal matter to the toilet of sinus is that a problem. What about what Douglas loved to go to the various happy hours and happy because I don't think he bought a meal you know it's free food free food so did you ever do that with him you know well yeah I did also you also had you also did theory over here your kids and tell us about that how was dug on the karaoke song and I was one responsible for starting that one you know dad did play the guitar and he did sing a did you know he wrote music he did so that I could so you go where would you guys do your karaoke locally interests and there was now the church owns it but it was a it was a bar called the well house we go in there and after he'd watch Seinfeld he'd come over so what time would this be like about 9 o'clock at night Thursday night oh yeah it's good because that's been signed that's what Seinfeld Seinfeld Yeah and he had no clue so you guys would just he get in the car and he don't drive over there no he would just meet us over after we would already be there and he had all kinds of different cars to write yeah yeah crazy cars he had me with seat belts that were yes. He had the big Lincolns and Cadillacs and all that yeah everything Ok so what happened so you guys would say you introduced him to and I introduced him to Evan and he came in and he would only do and I said Ok here's a book right here you pick a song and here's the number and here's the artist and you give it to that guy over there and. Ok Ok it's good but he had to start over and over and over what you know some of the stage and he's singing in an octave to hire some guy goes Oh could could could we start. Every guy goes well we got other people waiting. This is my 1st time they'd be making this case you know what they start over. Toward over and they get screwed up again it's like how about one more time the guy goes maybe next time. So how is it. So did you guys you guys would do that from time to time he really really enjoyed it he he really enjoyed getting up front of people and doing stuff like that and and he was an entertainer Yeah he loved entertaining I mean we're you know we talk we have a lot of talk here but there's that he that's the missing ingredient is his he was so much fun yeah he was a lot of fun and had a lot of great ideas Well you know he had a he had a website called the Independent voter and that was one of the things he was really committed to is he was. Douglas Holbrook said he would stay grad was deeply committed to changing the political system he saw the political system was a mess and he just thought that the idea of the independent voter. Was so promising. And he really he really wanted. And so he put together this website and he enjoyed Gordon did and it was it was very very promising and that was one of the things that we were getting ready. To work on you know before he passed and. Now you did not actually experience going with him to all the free food that was before but but Douglas and Douglas Holbrook. Probably never paid for dinner during the week. For many years at a time I mean he I never saw him reach for his wallet no well no no no I mean that you know but but but he would George Gordon told me that they would that they literally had had and there are some places in San Diego that have fabulous apiaries with with all the fixin's and so it's so he they would make the rounds and they had just the job the time it's in some of the other things he would do is he would have people come over and they would have these different kinds of of games right they have the different sorts of things did you participate in that did he say what sorts of things that he do oh well he and Bill Driscoll had this thing called where to tell the truth you know and have her well they had this little thing set up to where they had a pedal underneath on the floor and they'd say John. I'm going to a bit ask you question Ok. Be truthful as truthful as you can and I Ok And he goes Have you ever had an extramarital affair Oh my God and I went absolutely not and the thing went whopper for a lot. Was your wife there she was oh my gosh well that was that your wife or your daughter to get those of yeah looks like my daughter they're going to do. So so so that's the kind of thing he was so he would you know we had fun. A lot of fun. But there was a spiritual side about Douglas talking to us about not religious but spiritual he he lost a brother to. A drunk driver and at a very young age I think it was 17 or 18 years old when he passed away you know Douglas was Jewish. And his he came from a very very fine family his mother was exquisite and she remarried and I think she remarried into a lawyers family and so Douglas became the Son of her. Stepdad and they were I think that was really who he knew as his dad. And his mom and you know very sadly I think passed away last year you know I think she was way up there in her 809292 and. So the. But but Douglas was Douglas was it was interesting Douglas didn't cuss now he never had a frown you know like he he was taken back a little bit I mean he was so highly cultivated and he was such a. Refined person but yet he represented the woman who was eventually killed who was you know people think. Was. Yes Ok Ok We're going to class it we're going to go now we have we have Douglas broadcasting singing about the in front of the Hall of Justice in front of the Khalid justice is Douglas Holbrook able to Jim Brewster found this on a forest on the Internet that was Holbrooke with his interpretation of what happened to Bob Filner Bob Filner Bob Filner was the victim of a conspiracy and you're going to hear it here on Cain a straight let's go Bob Filner special report we're looking at the college justice downtown San Diego and Douglas but this is hysterical This is Douglas Holbrook as a news reporter canids j. Covering the news at. The county courthouse and. You can go on the Web site you go on the Internet in the last year later how you how you get there he's figured out that Bob's problem was that he was hit. They snuck in Love Potion Number 9 into the water supply and that's what happened. And deadlifts made the case you know he had he. Did this video. Down at the county courthouse now by the way we're going to have a vent for Douglas tonight you know and can you tell us about that it's it 2 o'clock to 4 refreshments will be served and it's the. Douglas's home and Golden Hill I believe it's on the. 30th Ave 30 street 30th Street or 25th yes 25th 25th on the corner 4th of right or right by probably right across the shell yeah state right across in the from the firehouse Yeah and it's this is the last meeting or gathering is home right now at its last meeting and it's at that home where that he loved it so it's been so I think about it all missing and it's been remembering it's been about 2 years since we last it was tell us about that day a while we we had done the radio show and it was you and Douglas and yourself myself and and Greg mom's his mom's birthday 9 a 2nd birthday and of course typical Douglas everybody's going over the birthday and so we all meet down there all of us were there except Douglas and we're waiting and waiting and waiting and it got to the point after 45 minutes or so we we got concerned and his daughter backtracked to Douglas's house and found the vehicle turned over and that's led to was with his girlfriend as a girlfriend and there was someone in the backseat to her friend I think got a little bit shaken down and. They found him at the hospital and he was still alive and that point he had sustained multiple injuries spinal injuries and was put on life support. Then the family had to make the decision. So that was it but that was but you know you were on the phone really late into the night going to bed oh we have speaking back and so he always returned my my voice mails and everything. And. I woke up about 1 30 in the morning and no Douglas and I went wow I woke my wife up and I said this there's something really wrong it's in my stomach I can feel as well and he had had he had had some heart issues. And he was a little bit stubborn on you know addressing those issues I think better of him so he but he thought he had you know he thought it was Ok but then that after that morning he had he had complained to you didn't think so if he said a little something to you but he wasn't feeling well or a little bit after the show he said I feel a little you know nothing unusual like a lot of people say they stand up in a field little step for you know they don't feel quite right or something like that but nothing that would alarm any of us to say now we're going to hospital right now so. When it hit him when he was driving to the convalescent home. It hit him suddenly and you know lost control of the Akhil you know the thing with Doug Doug was a good standard against which to kind of compare yourself because I always think much of God You know I just wish I could be more engaging you know more I mean I could do the small talk with the guys about you know sports but but in terms of really you know having something interesting to say you know I come up short and but Douglas Douglas had a way of just making things seem so fun you know he was he was the complete personality would have it Ok I was the video. Now we bring you a special report this important news conference is being repeated in case you missed the coverage of the live event. I'm done with Holbrooke as No actual San Diego women were harassed in connection with the production of this program. Well 1st of all we want we do not mean to make light of what happened that's not that's not our point our point is that this sense of humor Douglas Douglas spent his lifetime defending women and. Representing them incorporated in he had a whole slew of and he was he was you know his 2 daughters he was you know 100 percent committed to their development and he was not someone who would make light of something but he would we have a lot of color and he just he wanted to you know see you know maybe like that up a little bit you know you know and put things in perspective and that was the thing I was trying to say before is that that's what made him fun Douglas was fun I wish I could be like him you know I mean that's how you felt when you got done it was fun being around him he brought you in he made you feel like you know you were part of this group and also you feel like you would learn something for all each time you know no doubt I mean he had his house was filled we were doing the shows and I'd be going through his books and then and then we'd be done and he'd say Now Mike . Mike could I noticed that the books you have a pretty the books back. Do that like he would have said Ok you're welcome to board the book but please return it when we're no no no no I didn't borrow it I just looked at a lot of it said you know what he I didn't put it back in the show you can put it back you know exact same spot yeah yeah. That was my o.c.d. Yeah no no no he was right I mean you know the last thing in the world is you know yeah so anyway so we're going to go and celebrate Douglas' tonight we miss him so much you would have been I just can't think about what the show would be like if I got bless you Doug you know your brother really do and how invested all this family and thanks everyone for the privilege of your time today you know we really didn't have a whole lot of focus in the program but we had a lot of fun thanks for joining in the. Thank you for joining us on Talk of the town with former San Diego city attorney Michael Geary and the president's courtesy of John Baker productions here on k n s j Descanso you know 1 point one f.m. Serving San Diego. Please join us for the women's radio hour every Wednesday at 5 pm here on k n s j a 9 point one f.m. This is our focus on the lives of women in San Diego today examines unique social challenges explores solutions to issues and shares community resources as a way to improve social well being Please join us every Wednesday at 5 pm. This is the radio. From the City Heights. Everybody happy Wednesday where you're going to have a couple of different people on our radio show today we'll start with Center for Biological Diversity and then we're going to go later on into the moxy theater have . The director of our new play Come on we're just waiting a minute or 2 for our 1st guest to call in which could be any 2nd now. And. I want to see if you've managed to go through the rain Ok if you're Ok that's good if you have any questions or comments and would like to go on the air with us the number to call is 6152883836195 to 88383 and so we'll be 1st talking about there's an event going on in San Diego with this organization and I think we're going to have our guests come up right this minute a low. Hi there you want to introduce yourself. And endangered species ordinator already Center for Biological Diversity Yes and I was just telling my viewers that we are having an event this week and event throughout the month sponsored by your organization Yeah so let's talk about what is this organization where did it come from and how long has it been around. For the Center for Biological Diversity is a nationwide environmental nonprofit and it around for over 25 years now my house and our main goal is protecting. Wild spaces and the animals the letter so it's actually protecting the environment that the animals live in so that they have a home. Exactly yes and that's really important is there a particular group you work or is it more like ecological systems. You know protect certain animal species like mammals or reptiles or things like that. Oh yeah we're focused on all species so you're not species specificity. Yet we're not but yeah you know protect everybody including insects including plants including whatever is necessary to maintain that ecosystem Absolutely and what kind of efforts has your organization done in the past. So primarily work through litigation and that's. Making sure that the current environmental legislation we have is doing one of the 1st 2 and making sure environmental impact surveys are happening. That.