Jeff Pelline's Sierra Foothills Report

UPDATED FOR MONDAY:

Some prominent state Tea Party organizers and pioneer members are criticizing co-founder Mark Meckler and our local very conservative blogger George Rebane for defending the TPP leader, with one alleging he is a “Meckler plant.” George denies this.

The action is in the comments section on George’s blog post “Who’s a racist?” which I had pointed to previously, and “Stan Meckler responds.” It shows the rancor and infighting within factions of the Tea Party — as well as some of the mounting criticism being directed at Meckler, of Grass Valley. The comments are signed.

It also sheds a light on our local very conservative bloggers, who have staunchly defended Meckler. Rebane says he supported Meckler in his personal plea for financial support earlier this year — a detail he had not disclosed previously though he has written regularly about him. He responds he has no obligation to disclose that, but some Tea Partiers are arguing for disclosure in the name of “accountability and transparency,” supposedly tenants of the movement.

Meckler, meanwhile, took some more lumps — from Tea Party Patriots in both Northern and Southern California. Our Congressman Tom McClintock was drawn into the discussion, too.

“If Mark Meckler is so anti-politician or candidate, why was McClintock and Runner (both of which I endorsed through GOP Trumpeter) asked to be there at the first Tax Day event, Sacramento 8-28, and McClintock would have been there for the 2010 Tax Day if he had been in town,” Mandy Morello — a longtime TPPer and onetime Meckler confident, she says — wrote on George’s blog.

“Tread lightly, George, you are sounding like a Meckler’s plant to spread false information!”

In the comments section below, you can also read Morello refuting comments made by Rebane and Stan Meckler, Mark’s father, about her.

“This is an American Movement, not one person’s private club whose members had better not disagree with his plans or else they get booted,” Morello wrote.

In his response, Stan said: “Am I biased in favor of my son, Mark Meckler? You bet I am! But, anyone that actually knows us, not the lies that are told, will tell you that we are honorable people. Meet us and find out for yourselves.”

George’s defense: “My report was what I was told by the Mecklers.”

Morello — developer of the conservative website Grand Ol’Patriot Trumpeter — has disassociated herself from Mecker. At one time, however, she claimed to be a close confidant. In a comment below, she wrote: “I have been Patty’s shoulder to cry on as Mark spent weeks in D.C. leaving her with their kids, when a tree fell on their house and their plumbing backed up and their Great Dane had rectal problems!” (Patty is Mark’s wife).

Laura Boatright, coordinator of Tea Party IE in Southern California also weighed in: “First of all, as for ‘who’s a racist,’ Mark Williams wrote a very distasteful SATIRE that he should have had someone else read BEFORE he posted it. Especially with sarcasm and satire, sometimes it does not read with the same ‘flavor’ as we meant it to. (I am not a huge fan of Williams’, but I try to be FAIR with all people, even those I disagree with.)

“However, Mark Meckler, IMO, has put his personal vendetta above the TRUTH of the movement, and an honest debate about race in America at large in order to POSITION Tea Party Patriots as THE spokespeople for the movement. MOST OF US REJECT THAT IDEA.

He is AFRAID to talk about real racism, so easier to attack his rival. While he’s busy ‘branding’ Tea Party Patriots by keeping Mark Williams’ story alive, I am addressing the TRUTH.”

“TPP should not go on Glenn Beck and throw stones at other Tea Party organizations,” added Larry Naritelli, a Tea Partier who ran for governor as a grassroots conservative candidate in the June primary. Meckler and Tea Patriot Jenny Beth Martin were on Fox commentator Glenn Beck’s show on Friday.

Pam Silleman, coordinator of the Napa Tea Party, also comments on George’s blog: “Frankly, after seeing the lies being perpetuated by Jenny Beth on the Glenn Beck show Friday, I really don’t even want to hear the name TPP or Mark Meckler or Jenny Beth.”

A unattributed statement written by Rebane on July 20 prompted Morello to speak out. George wrote: “The problem with Mandy started some time ago when she would not separate her political party interests with that of the TPP. She refused to sign on to the TPP principle of not endorsing or being connected to any particular political party.”

When Mandy questioned him, Rebane responded: “Thanks for commenting Mandy. Since I have no first person knowledge of this situation, my report was of what I was told by the Mecklers.”

On Rebane’s blog, Boatright called on him to disclose his contributions to Meckler. “Mr. Rebane, the movement is about ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY. So, I think for the sake of FULL DISCLOSURE AND DISCLAIMER you SHOULD tell us what you have given to Meckler, Sac Tea Party, Nevada County Tea Party Patriots, etc. Let’s just get it ALL out in the open,” she wrote.

Read all the comments below.

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Nevada has a 35-year-old law — the only one of its kind — mandating the option “none of these candidates” appear on the state’s voting register. It was instituted amid the mistrust of government brought on by the Watergate scandal.

Ironically, the 1975 law could hurt Tea Party candidate Sharon Angle in her race against Democrat Harry Reid, as the Las Vegas Sun and other publications are reporting.

Both candidates have high unfavorable ratings — 56 percent for Angle and 55 percent for Reid.

“In a situation where the incumbent is locked into a mid-40s approval rating and is having an incredibly difficult time getting to 50 percent, I think it helps the incumbent to have none of the above,” Ryan Erwin, a Republican political consultant, told the Sun this weekend. “Anything on the ballot that drives Sharron Angle’s numbers down is a benefit to Harry Reid.”

“I was at his funeral reception yesterday (former Nevada governor Kenny Guinn), and it blew me away the number of people that told me they didn’t know who to vote for now. They can’t stand either one,” a Republican said of Angle and Reid, according to the Daily Caller.

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The Nevada Joint Union High School District has agreed to hire an executive search firm for $11,500 to find a new superintendent. But according to the consultancy contract, it is planning to largely re-use the job description from three years ago.

“To use with minor editing the recruitment brochure employed in the district’s last superintendent search and electronically distribute it as a recruitment brochure announcing the position,” the agreement reads. “(The consultant) will also ask the interview questions from the district’s last superintendent search in the development of interview packets for the Board.”

The Board should use the vacancy to re-calibrate where they have been and where they are going, especially after the tectonic shifts that have occurred in the past three years: Major declines in enrollment and drastic budget cuts from the state.

This is not “business as usual” and would seem to require something more substantial that just minor editing of the existing recruitment brochure.

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The new Lumberjack’s restaurant in Grass Valley, where Tailgator’s used to be, is packing them in after being open only a week, according to residents and staff.

“We stopped by and it’s packed — headed up to the Old 5 Mile house,” wrote one resident on Facebook. “We’ve been extremely busy,” added a hostess at Lumberjack’s.

In a small town like ours, I notice the novelty of a new restaurant is a draw in itself. Lumberjack’s motto is “Where the Big Boys eat.”

“Large portions, friendly staff, and good home-cooking,” according to its website. “Tired of the old ‘box-cutter’ restaurant image that many chains have become, Jeff Garrett wants to see Lumberjacks grow out of the broken mould that no longer satisfies the hungry diner’s appetite for variety and good food.”

Three other Lumberjack’s restaurants, in Yuba City, Redding and Sacramento, make up the newly established chain. Grass Valley is the latest addition. The menu is here.

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The Union’s parent, Nevada-based Swift Communications, has been seeking a new Director of Human Resources, reporting to the chief executive, according to a posting on its website.

“We are looking for a key player for our team – Director – Human Resources — are you the perfect fit? Swift Communications, publisher of market leading newspapers, web sites and mobile media solutions serving communities across 7 western states, is currently seeking a highly energetic Human Resources Director. This position reports directly to our Chief Executive Officer and is responsible for leading the HR functions of this growth-oriented company comprised of more than 650 dedicated employees.”

Debbie Spieker-Martin had been the HR director at Swift. Bill Toler, who spent 29 years with Procter & Gamble, was named Swift’s chief executive last year, as reported previously.

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