What to talk about around the Thanksgiving table- Trump?

Oh dear oh dear. I suppose you can make the case to your family that Romney would be a far better candidate than the current contenders, and the bowl of mashed yams with marshmallows would be a better White house choice than Trump, but how long is your memory? After Romney's 2012 vaudeville act, you really think he's a viable candidate?

My advice: create a no-political-talk zone around your Thanksgiving table, enjoy the warm embrace of family and friends, and confine your talk about turkeys to the one on the table rather than those in the GOP's carnival show.

Romney 2016, have you considered a discussion of the political spawning grounds engendered by the "special districts" in San Mateo County? The Harbor District, fire Districts, Healthcare Districts, Mosquito Abatement District, etc. are all incubators for future politicians. And, by and large, they are tools of the associations which have created our "welfare state".

Why don't you facilitate an effort to recruit objective candidates to deal with these districts?

Mr. Hickey - thank you. I took the liberty of googling your name, and find it most interesting. What would you say are your top three personal success stories in your 12 years at the Sequoia Health Care District?

Mr. "stranger than fiction" - thank you for the advice. We generally do all the above, but as liberals are so plentiful in California, they tend to bring it up with a great deal of pride, unlike a liberal might in Nebraska or Wyoming - places in America where liberals aren't quite so full of themselves. They are not quite so overweening in places like Iowa, or the bayou country, for example.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Romney 2016, I may be a California liberal, but full of myself? I intend to be full tomorrow, but with stuff far more interesting than myself. Have a great politics-free Thanksgiving.

1. My referendum petitioning effort which preserved Sequoia Hospital on its current site.
In early 2003, the political power brokers were on a fast track to relocate Sequoia Hospital. I submitted a Referendum petition to voters, collecting > 4,000 signatures. My campaign signs sent a powerful message. Web Link
The relocation plan was derailed, and Sequoia Hospital has been upgraded on its historic site.

2. Keeping the issue before the voters. See: Web Link and, Web Link I received 32,627 votes in that election.

3. In my latest re-election, I received 1,933 more votes than Art Faro, former CEO of Sequoia Hospital and longtime Director on the Board.
Web Link

I have filed complaints with the DA to no avail. I attribute this to the "good old boys" club. I sought an attorney to pursue an action against the district. The GOB club forced me to seek an attorney in Sacramento. I abandoned that action for practical reasons.
See: Web Link

Bruce Hasenkamp, foreman of Quentin Kopp's 2000/2001 and 2001/2002 San Mateo County Civil Grand Juries passed away a few weeks ago. An informal celebration of life is being held for Bruce at Harry's Hofbrau in Redwood City on Saturday between 2 P.M. and 4 P.M. It was his Grand Jury that exposed the Sequoia Healthcare District and inspired me to run for a seat on the Board.

I'll be there.

Correction: The celebration of life for Bruce is on Saturday, December 5, at Harry's Hofbrau in Redwood City from 2-4 P.M.