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I started to write that pretty much the worst thing that I could imagine in Orange County Democratic politics, short of someone's death, has happened today.  That isn't quite true, though.  What has been reported today is worse than anything I have imagined about our party -- and I have imagined plenty.

One's first tendency may be to hide it.  I think that one instead faces it.

I hate to give the conservative-libertarian Orange County Register any hits, but they are the ones with the story, so click away:

A prominent Democratic campaign treasurer who works for federal, state and O.C. lawmakers including U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Rep. Loretta Sanchez and state Assemblymen Lou Correa and Jose Solorio has been arrested by the FBI on suspicion of mail fraud, The Orange County Register has learned.

U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Thom Mrozek confirmed Saturday afternoon that Kinde Durkee of Burbank-based Durkee and Associates, was arrested by the FBI on a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sacramento. Special Agent Steve Dupre of the bureau’s Sacramento office said she was arrested in connection with her position as a campaign treasurer.

"Innocent until proven guilty," absolutely; I make no conclusions from this arrest.  But this story is huge.  Kinde Durkee was the one person always represented to me, since entering Orange County politics a little less than five years ago, as trustworthy and incorruptible.  We will be reeling from this arrest alone, let alone the details, for a long time.

Federal Election Commission records show that Durkee is the treasurer for Feinstein and Sanchez, who could not be reached Saturday. California Secretary of State records show she currently serves as the treasurer for at least 115 state-level committees. Those committees include campaign accounts for Solorio, D-Santa Ana; Assemblymen Gilbert Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, and Roger Hernandez, D-Baldwin Park; State Sens. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance and Curren Price, D-Los Angeles; Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian; and former Orange County lawmaker Tom Umberg.

Durkee also oversaw the political-action committees of the Democratic Party of Orange County and the Democratic Foundation of Orange County, among others

.

Another day, I'll talk about what one expects from a committee Treasurer -- who is not the person you elect or appoint as Treasurer for your campaign or PAC but the professional with whom your Treasurer does business.

Today, the earthquake is still going on.  We crouch, with the ground shaking, hoping that we survive with the least possible damage.  "Terrible" barely begins to describe it.  As a Democrat active in, among other things, the DPOC, I feel like I have been kicked in the teeth.  I can only imagine how the officeholders listed above feel.

Mon Sep 05, 2011 at 9:51 AM PT: The Sacramento Bee has taken a look at all of the state filings done by Kinde Durkee's firm that were filed in 2011, to help give us a sense of the breadth of damage.  I want to emphasize that, to the best of my knowledge, all of these groups would have hired Durkee in good faith.

ALL STUDENTS FIRST
AMERICANS FOR CIVIC PARTICIPATION
ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE 'ANCPAC'
BONITA DEMOCRATIC COUNCIL
CALIFORNIA ACE PAC (ASSOCIATION OF CLUB EXECUTIVES)
CALIFORNIA AIDS PAC - STATE
CALIFORNIA COLLEGE DEMOCRATS
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
CALIFORNIA LIST, THE
CALIFORNIA MAJORITY RULE / CALIFORNIANS FOR DEMOCRACY
CALIFORNIA THOM O'SHAUGHNESSY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (CATOS P
CALIFORNIA YOUNG DEMOCRATS
CANADA CRESCENTA DEMOCRATIC CLUB
CEDILLO FOR ASSEMBLY 2010
CEDILLO OFFICEHOLDER COMMITTEE 2010, ASSEMBLYMANCEDILLO OFFICEHOLDER COMMITTEE, SENATOR
CHAVEZ FOR ASSEMBLY 2012
COALITION FOR RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP
COLE FOR STATE SENATE 2009, ROBERT
COOLEY FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL 2010, SPONSORED BY THE ASSOCIATION FO
CORREA FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL 2018, LOU
CORREA FOR STATE SENATE 2010, LOU
CORREA OFFICEHOLDER COMMITTEE 2010, SENATOR LOU
COUNCIL ON AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS CALIFORNIA POLITICAL ACTION C
DEMOCRATIC CLUB OF PASADENA FOOTHILLS
DEMOCRATIC CLUB OF THE CONEJO VALLEY
DEMOCRATIC FOUNDATION OF ORANGE COUNTY
DEMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS OF THE DESERT (DHQD)
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ORANGE COUNTY
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ORANGE COUNTY
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ORANGE COUNTY
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY SLATE CARD
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY SLATE CARD
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY SLATE CARD
DEMOCRATIC WOMEN OF THE DESERT
DEMOCRATIC WOMEN OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
DEMOCRATS IN SUN CITY PALM DESERT
DEMOCRATS IN TRILOGY, LA QUINTA
DEMOCRATS OF THE DESERT
EL MONTE PAC
FIREFIGHTERS LEGISLATIVE ACTION GROUP 'FLAG' CALIFORNIA STATE FIREFIG
FOSTER FOR TREASURER 2014
FOX FOR CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY 2010, MELISSA
FRIENDS OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES
HARRIS-FORSTER, FRIENDS OF LINDA
HEADQUARTERS COMMITTEE OF WEST HOLLYWOOD/BEVERLY HILLS & STONE
HERNANDEZ FOR ASSEMBLY 2010
HERNANDEZ FOR ASSEMBLY 2012
HERNANDEZ, FRIENDS OF ROGER
HERZOG CONTRACTING CORP./ HERZOG TRANSIT SERVICES/ TRANSIT AMERIC
HISPANAS ORGANIZED FOR POLITICAL EQUALITY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTE
HOLDEN FOR ASSEMBLY 2012
HONOR PAC
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS LOCAL 569 COMMI
IRVINE CITY EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION PAC
JOBS AND ECONOMY VOTER GUIDE
KENNEDY DEMOCRATS OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
KREKORIAN 2010, CALIFORNIANS FOR PAUL
KREKORIAN 2010, CALIFORNIANS FOR PAUL
KREKORIAN 2010, CALIFORNIANS FOR PAUL
KREKORIAN 2010, CALIFORNIANS FOR PAUL
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2009 - GENERAL
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2009 - GENERAL
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2009 - GENERAL
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2009 - GENERAL
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2009 OFFICEHOLDER
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2009 OFFICEHOLDER
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2009 OFFICEHOLDER
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2009 OFFICEHOLDER
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2009 OFFICEHOLDER
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2011
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2011
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2011
KREKORIAN FOR CITY COUNCIL 2011
KREKORIAN, FRIENDS OF PAUL
KREKORIAN, FRIENDS OF PAUL
KREKORIAN, FRIENDS OF PAUL
KREKORIAN, FRIENDS OF PAUL
LIEU FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL 2010, TED
LIEU FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL 2010, TED
LIEU FOR STATE SENATE 2011, TED
LIEU FOR STATE SENATE 2011, TED
LIEU FOR STATE SENATE 2014, TED
LIEU FOR STATE SENATE 2014, TED
LIEU OFFICEHOLDER ACCOUNT, ASSEMBLYMEMBER TED
LIEU OFFICEHOLDER ACCOUNT, ASSEMBLYMEMBER TED
LONG BEACH DEMOCRATIC CLUB
LONG BEACH YOUNG DEMOCRATS
LOO FOR JUDGE 2008
LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY - STATE CANDIDATE COMMITTEE
LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY - STATE CANDIDATE COMMITTEE
LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY - STATE CANDIDATE COMMITTEE
LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY - STATE CANDIDATE COMMITTEE
LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY - STATE CANDIDATE COMMITTEE
LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY-ISSUES AND ADVOCACY COMMITT
LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY-ISSUES AND ADVOCACY COMMITT
LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY-ISSUES AND ADVOCACY COMMITT
MANATT, PHELPS & PHILLIPS
MANATT, PHELPS & PHILLIPS
MEXICAN AMERICAN POLITICAL ASSOCIATION PAC (MAPA PAC)
MURRIETA FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION PAC
NAHABEDIAN FOR ASSEMBLY 2010, NAYIRI
NAHABEDIAN FOR ASSEMBLY 2010-SPECIAL NAYIRI
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF REPUBLICAN ARMENIANS
NATIVE AMERICAN ALLIANCENEIGHBORHOODS FIRST
NEW LEADERSHIP CALIFORNIA
NO ON MEASURE A - WEST HOLLYWOOD CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE GROWTH
ORANGE COUNTY LABOR FEDERATION AFL-CIO COMMITTEE ON POLITICAL EDUORANGE COUNTY VICTORY FUND
ORANGE COUNTY YOUNG DEMOCRATS
PACIFIC FEDERAL INSURANCE CORP
PACIFIC PALISADES DEMOCRATIC CLUB
PALM SPRINGS DEMOCRATIC CLUB
PARRISH FOR ORANGE COUNTY ASSESSOR 2010, CLAUDE
PARRISH STATE TREASURER COMMITTEE, CLAUDE
PASADENA UNITED DEMOCRATIC HEADQUARTERS STEERING COMMITTEE
PRICE FOR SENATE 2010
PRICE FOR SENATE 2014
PROGRESS FOR A NEW GENERATION
PROSPERITY FOR CALIFORNIA, A BALLOT MEASURE COMMITTEE SPONSORED B
RICASA 2008, ARLIE
RIVERSIDE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE
RIVERSIDE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY LEADERSHIP PAC, SPONSORED BY THE VALLEY INDUS
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY LEADERSHIP PAC, SPONSORED BY THE VALLEY INDUS
SANCHEZ FOR GOVERNOR 2014, PEOPLE FOR LORETTA
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE
SHAW FOR 38TH ASSEMBLY 2010, DIANA
SOLORIO ASSEMBLY OFFICEHOLDER COMMITTEE 2010, JOSE
SOLORIO FOR ASSEMBLY 2010
SOLORIO FOR SENATE 2014
SOUTH COUNTY DEMOCRATS UNITED
STONEWALL DEMOCRATIC CLUB-ISSUES AND ADVOCACY COMMITTEE
STONEWALL YOUNG DEMOCRATS
TEAM USA COMMUNITY COLLEGE COALITION
TEAM USA COMMUNITY COLLEGE COALITION
TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP PAC, INC.
TURKISH COALITION CALIFORNIA PAC (TC-CAL PAC)
UMBERG, CONSUMERS FOR TOM
VIETNAMESE AMERICAN DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
VOTER EDUCATION GROUP
WALDMAN, FRIENDS OF STUART
WESLEY TO THE SUPERIOR COURT 2010, COMMITTEE TO RE-ELECT DAVID
WEST HOLLYWOOD CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE GROWTH WITH MAJOR FUNDI
WEST HOLLYWOOD DEMOCRATIC CLUB / BEVERLY HILLS DEMOCRATIC CLUB
WEST HOLLYWOOD UNITED

Originally posted to Doane Spills on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 06:55 PM PDT.

Also republished by California politics.

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Comment Preferences

59 comments | Permalink

  •  Denunciations of Durkee would be premature (25+ / 0-)
    Recommended by:
    jethrock, ER Doc, cv lurking gf, SallyCat, One Pissed Off Liberal, KenBee, bythesea, Vatexia, amk for obama, bronte17, FrugalGranny, Glen The Plumber, Lujane, G2geek, poe, philipmerrill, chuckvw, begone, American in Kathmandu, neroden, BachFan, jennyp, PeterHug, KCBearcat, dirkster42

    at this moment and, so far as I'm concerned, are not welcome here.  I believe in "innocent until proven guilty" -- although of course in this case her innocence would itself mean that her arrest itself was likely a huge scandal.

    So, unless anyone wants to invite FBI attention, please spare us all any specific comments about what Durkee may have done and whether you believe it or don't believe it.  We won't know for a while, most likely.  I write here to assess the political fallout, which it seems to me will be huge -- and targeted unfairly broadly.

    In my avatar, the blue bars show how many want Reps who COMPROMISE; the aqua bars show who wants Reps who STAND FAST no matter what. (Left=Overall; Center=Democrats; Right=Republicans.) And there's the problem!

    by Seneca Doane on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 06:54:17 PM PDT

    •  How can fallout be assessed (4+ / 0-)
      Recommended by:
      Lujane, valion, drawingporno, auron renouille

      if we don't know or can't discuss the accusation? "Mail Fraud" is a big category. All I get from your diary is that someone whose name I don't recognize but who has associations with a lot of Democratic politicians that I DO recognize has been arrested and that you feel this news will be bad for these politicians and possibly the state party. I can understand that people who may have some personal interest in the case should not be discussing that in an open forum but how many Kossacks have the slightest idea why this is important?

      "Someone just turned the lights on in the bar and the sexiest state doesn't look so pretty anymore" CA Treasurer Bill Lockyer on Texas budget mess

      by CaliSista on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 07:14:34 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  I don't know how it can be assessed (10+ / 0-)
        Recommended by:
        jethrock, ER Doc, SallyCat, KenBee, bythesea, amk for obama, CaliSista, Lujane, poe, neroden

        I'm just gobsmacked.  Lots of Californian read this site and lots will not have heard about it, so I'm just getting out the word.  As I say, I believe in "innocent until proven guilty" so I don't want to presume that she engaged in mail fraud large enough to have cost just one candidate -- Lou Correa, quoted in the article -- hundreds of thousands of dollars.  But the story is now out there, it will be picked up, blame will surely be cast broadly, and Democrats will have to respond.  How best to do so, I do not know.

        If you don't know Kindee Durkee, that's fine.  Other people are, believe me, reading this and gasping.  This post was primarily intended to reach them.

        In my avatar, the blue bars show how many want Reps who COMPROMISE; the aqua bars show who wants Reps who STAND FAST no matter what. (Left=Overall; Center=Democrats; Right=Republicans.) And there's the problem!

        by Seneca Doane on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 07:22:24 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  As you can hopefully (2+ / 0-)
          Recommended by:
          neroden, esquimaux

          see by my username, I am one of those Californians who read this site. That still doesn't make me automatically know anything about this person.  I also believe in "innocent until proven guilty" so explaining why someone was arrested in no way implies guilt to me. By clicking into your diary, I was hoping to learn why the arrest of this person was a "shock" for "CA Dems". I apparently mistook "CA Dems" for California Democrats (citizens) rather than CA Democrats (politicians). Thanks for the clarification.

          "Someone just turned the lights on in the bar and the sexiest state doesn't look so pretty anymore" CA Treasurer Bill Lockyer on Texas budget mess

          by CaliSista on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 10:29:49 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  My hope is that the accompanying story (1+ / 0-)
            Recommended by:
            CaliSista

            (from which I quoted and to which I linked) would make that clear.  I have no information about why she was arrested beyond that.  I think that why it is a shock to those affected and a grief for all CA Democrats should be self-evident.

            In my avatar, the blue bars show how many want Reps who COMPROMISE; the aqua bars show who wants Reps who STAND FAST no matter what. (Left=Overall; Center=Democrats; Right=Republicans.) And there's the problem!

            by Seneca Doane on Sun Sep 04, 2011 at 12:26:24 AM PDT

            [ Parent ]

      •  "how many Kossacks have the slightest idea... (11+ / 0-)
        Recommended by:
        SallyCat, Seneca Doane, KenBee, bythesea, Lujane, G2geek, CaliSista, philipmerrill, chuckvw, neroden, Russ Jarmusch

        why this is important?"

        Um, isn't that a big portion of what Daily Kos is for?

        Unfiltered information.

        I'm a New Yorker but I do care about what is going on in other parts of the Country. And thanks to posts like this... I learn things I didn't know before.

        This is not an opinion piece. Seneca Doane is reporting facts.

        It doesn't matter if you or I like the facts... what is important is the facts are there.

        This is a crisis I knew had to come, Destroying the balance I'd kept. Doubting, unsettling and turning around, Wondering what will come next.
        --Ian Curtis

        by jethrock on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 07:27:55 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Well.... (2+ / 0-)
          Recommended by:
          esquimaux, auron renouille
          Um, isn't that a big portion of what Daily Kos is for?

          Unfiltered information.

          Umm, yes it is. In fact, I was seeking more of that unfiltered information in my initial comment. In his/her answer to me above, Seneca Doane has explained that the diary was intended for those who already know all about this person. Now that I've been so informed, I will gladly leave it to that group for discussion and comment.

          "Someone just turned the lights on in the bar and the sexiest state doesn't look so pretty anymore" CA Treasurer Bill Lockyer on Texas budget mess

          by CaliSista on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 10:38:25 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

    •  Note: I originally misspelled Durkee's first name (3+ / 0-)
      Recommended by:
      Lujane, neroden, KenBee

      here as "Kindee" rather than "Kinde."  Thank you to KenBee for the correction.

      In my avatar, the blue bars show how many want Reps who COMPROMISE; the aqua bars show who wants Reps who STAND FAST no matter what. (Left=Overall; Center=Democrats; Right=Republicans.) And there's the problem!

      by Seneca Doane on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 09:32:55 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  What is mail fraud anyway? Do you have (1+ / 0-)
      Recommended by:
      Seneca Doane

      an example for stupid people (like me)?

      Alan Grayson: "In 2010, my district and everywhere else in Florida, Republican turnout was in the sixties. Democratic turnout was in the forties." Think about it.

      by alliedoc on Sun Sep 04, 2011 at 03:52:04 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  There are zero details, so not reccing diary (0+ / 0-)

      This may turn out to be a completely trumped up charge, or it may turn out to be fraud, but we have no way of even guessing right now.  I don't believe in reporting with that little information.

      Read pp. 1-7 of Krugman's _The Great Unraveling_ (available from Google Books). NOW.

      by neroden on Sun Sep 04, 2011 at 04:09:33 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  The Democratic Party here is being roiled by this (1+ / 0-)
        Recommended by:
        KenBee

        That's the story.  If it turns out to be a trumped up charge, great.  As I've tried to indicate, this isn't about her guilt or about condemning her.  This is about her arrest and its effect of California Democrats, both statewide and primarily in Southeast LA and Orange County.  Yes, there's enough to "report."

        In my avatar, the blue bars show how many want Reps who COMPROMISE; the aqua bars show who wants Reps who STAND FAST no matter what. (Left=Overall; Center=Democrats; Right=Republicans.) And there's the problem!

        by Seneca Doane on Sun Sep 04, 2011 at 07:51:21 AM PDT

        [ Parent ]

  •  And what do we know about the US Attorney.... (1+ / 0-)
    Recommended by:
    neroden

    ....in Sacramento? Did we make a nice bipartisan compromise in that position?

    I am waiting in my car, I am waiting in this bar, I am waiting on your essence. - Lucinda Williams

    by Bensdad on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 07:15:45 PM PDT

  •  Yet, another example of why we need to get (11+ / 0-)
    Recommended by:
    Seneca Doane, SallyCat, bythesea, amk for obama, bronte17, Lujane, G2geek, Lucy2009, begone, sidnora, Hkpa

    money out of politics.

    This scandal aside, it's ridiculous how much of our elected officials time is consumed with raising money and dialing for dollars as opposed to doing the job we elected and pay them to do.

    It's true with the best of them.

    Urgh.

    This is a crisis I knew had to come, Destroying the balance I'd kept. Doubting, unsettling and turning around, Wondering what will come next.
    --Ian Curtis

    by jethrock on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 07:16:31 PM PDT

  •  I might change the headline (9+ / 0-)
    Recommended by:
    SallyCat, Seneca Doane, bythesea, amk for obama, bronte17, Lujane, begone, neroden, sidnora

    Because it sounds like these may be allegations of theft from the campaign, albeit characterized as "mail fraud" under the expansive federal criminal statutes.

    Oy. What a mess.

    Pre-Register for Netroots Nation 2012: Providence!

    by Adam B on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 07:33:40 PM PDT

    •  "Mail fraud" is a form of fraud (6+ / 0-)
      Recommended by:
      KenBee, Lujane, G2geek, philipmerrill, begone, neroden

      using the U.S. mail and this bringing that fraud under federal jurisdiction.  There's little chance that it would not involve theft from campaigns, so I don't think it's misleading; I also think that is more readily understandable.  But if you have a better suggestion, I'm all ears.

      "A mess," indeed.  This is the person that I have regularly been told, in five years of political involvement here, could be trusted.  And she has been, with many millions.

      In my avatar, the blue bars show how many want Reps who COMPROMISE; the aqua bars show who wants Reps who STAND FAST no matter what. (Left=Overall; Center=Democrats; Right=Republicans.) And there's the problem!

      by Seneca Doane on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 07:49:09 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  "Arrested for Theft From Campaigns"? (5+ / 0-)
        Recommended by:
        bythesea, KenBee, Lujane, CaliSista, neroden

        The mail component may just have been his mailing in of the FEC reports to hide the fraud from his clients.

        When a lay person hears "mail fraud," I imagine he conjures "someone sends a letter containing lies to solicit money from the recipient."

        Pre-Register for Netroots Nation 2012: Providence!

        by Adam B on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 08:02:12 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  "Her," not him (3+ / 0-)
          Recommended by:
          KenBee, Lujane, neroden

          I presume, but do not know, that this involves theft from campaigns.  Your last observation there is why I avoid the term "mail fraud" here -- people don't get it.  Its gravamen would be "fraud" -- that conveys the gist of the message.

          I could be wrong, though, and I thank you for the challenge, which allows people to recognize the various possibilities.

          In my avatar, the blue bars show how many want Reps who COMPROMISE; the aqua bars show who wants Reps who STAND FAST no matter what. (Left=Overall; Center=Democrats; Right=Republicans.) And there's the problem!

          by Seneca Doane on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 08:08:50 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

  •  Expect 24x7 pox news running with it. (3+ / 0-)
    Recommended by:
    KenBee, Seneca Doane, Lucy2009

    One bitter fact is two bit hacks populate the third rate fourth estate who are truly the fifth columnists. PL poutrage lasts a week, max.
    Call the media when they Lie

    by amk for obama on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 07:34:10 PM PDT

  •  Not good news...although the charge (7+ / 0-)
    Recommended by:
    KenBee, Seneca Doane, bythesea, amk for obama, FrugalGranny, begone, neroden

    could be within a wide range based on the 'mail faud'.  Thanks for the heads up...bad press no matter what happens and that's not good.

    Nothing astonishes men so much as common sense and plain dealing.Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1841

    by SallyCat on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 07:38:52 PM PDT

  •  This seems to happen periodically, sadly (3+ / 0-)
    Recommended by:
    Seneca Doane, bythesea, neroden

    e.g., Christopher J. Ward at the NRCC.

    Allegedly, anyway.

    Ok, so I read the polls.

    by andgarden on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 07:47:49 PM PDT

  •  Sacto Bee (3+ / 0-)
    Recommended by:
    Seneca Doane, SallyCat, Lujane
    The California Fair Political Practices Commission has taken action against her four times, mainly for failing to report transactions or information, and sent her a dozen warning letters. She also stipulated to a violation from San Diego's Ethics Commission.

    Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/...

    fwiw...sorry SD, this sucks.

    There was an article in the LATimes yesterday describing the politics in OC in the city of..of......ahhh, never mind, you saw it, I can't remember enough about OC anymore to comment more than inanely, it talked about libertarians and progressives uniting..ahh, anyway, I thought you'd be in the middle of it.

    Good luck..

    ..squinting all the while in the glare of a culture that radiates ultraviolet consumerism and infrared celebrity...Russell Brand

    by KenBee on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 07:53:28 PM PDT

    •  Her being cited would be for negligence (4+ / 0-)
      Recommended by:
      bythesea, KenBee, Lujane, neroden

      which is not good, but not necessarily evil.  Fraud is a whole different thing.

      Have a link to the LAT article?  My guess is Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, or Fullerton.  I'd be flattering myself to say that I was in the middle of it, but in all three cases I'm within the boundaries of it.  Yes, some strange alliances are afoot here.

      In my avatar, the blue bars show how many want Reps who COMPROMISE; the aqua bars show who wants Reps who STAND FAST no matter what. (Left=Overall; Center=Democrats; Right=Republicans.) And there's the problem!

      by Seneca Doane on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 08:06:23 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Fullerton Kelly Thomas case (4+ / 0-)
        Recommended by:
        Seneca Doane, Lujane, philipmerrill, neroden

        here
        This quote struck me, as  as often as i find someone helpful in government (yay DMV, postoffice and many more, I'm appalled and never surprised at the hippy kicking meanness that can also be seen):

        "There are some communities in Orange County in which people are disengaged. However, Fullerton is not one of them," said Fred Smoller, a political science professor at Chapman University, adding that the interests of libertarian and liberal groups intersect on the issue of police brutality.
        and a perfect example of this, and dam the writer for featuring the teabaggery way above the more thorough and time tested responses from liberals who have been at this kind of thing since forever.

         

        ..squinting all the while in the glare of a culture that radiates ultraviolet consumerism and infrared celebrity...Russell Brand

        by KenBee on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 09:09:36 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

    •  wha -- ? (2+ / 0-)
      Recommended by:
      KenBee, Seneca Doane

      modesto (irc) has a good paper. are they also covering?
      is the modesto part of mcclatchey family of papers?

      brave kossak to give heads up to us ignoramuses.

      ... what was in the fridge? (same kinda story, older version)

      Addington's perpwalk is the trailhead of accountability for this wound to our national psyche. 48forEastAfrica - Donate to Oxfam

      by greenbird on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 08:57:35 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  from dkos pharma diary 2005 (4+ / 0-)
    Recommended by:
    Seneca Doane, bronte17, Lujane, neroden

    via Calitics

    from a comment, illuminative maybe

     Kindee Durkee (0+ / 0-)
    is a professional treasurer for a large number of PAC's.  Politics is not an issue with these operations, they are political bookkeepers. They do tend to keep a client list of either R or D. Many, many, many  PAC's, candidates and slate committees use Kindee.

    With Pharma and individual drug companies pouring the largest amount of money on record into a state ballot issue campaign (not fact checked) money is flowing into an all kinds of "voter guides", slates, even issue advocacy groups.  Many (most) are astroturf groups.

    I don't have time to look it up but there was a great (and unfortunately ignored) diary on use of black candidates either paid for or without permission on political mail by the Pharma groups and the mail that is swamping black communities.   (diary title had something about whores in the title, probably why it scrolled into the wasteland)

    my bold...

    ..squinting all the while in the glare of a culture that radiates ultraviolet consumerism and infrared celebrity...Russell Brand

    by KenBee on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 08:04:27 PM PDT

    •  Some will cover both major parties (3+ / 0-)
      Recommended by:
      KenBee, Lujane, neroden

      but my sense is that most will limit themselves to one or the other, because their clientele prefers it.  I have no idea of her personal politics.  They didn't matter to me.  Her integrity and competence, by contrast, mattered greatly.

      In my avatar, the blue bars show how many want Reps who COMPROMISE; the aqua bars show who wants Reps who STAND FAST no matter what. (Left=Overall; Center=Democrats; Right=Republicans.) And there's the problem!

      by Seneca Doane on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 08:10:59 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  'The scumbags are trying to steal our votes' (5+ / 0-)
    Recommended by:
    bronte17, Seneca Doane, Lujane, neroden, jillian

    didn't show from the Kindee Durkee tag,   ( which says 'two entries' but shows only one, this diary) also spelled different gets a different tag!?! (where are the never thanked tag police now...:<) Kinde Durkee and from there this: The scumbags are trying to steal our votes' in which Jillian goes on a tear in the comments...
      Presuming to speak for jillian, I'd say we warned...sad to say.

    This concerns me, our local candidate against Galleghly was Brett Wagner....altho Brett didn't stand a chance against Galleghly, being despicably backstabbed about money ( iirc there was a dem chairman asking for an investigation cause 'I just have some questions' etc, there was an investigation, he was exonerated, yet still did ok...grr. What dirtbags even dems can be..we're a funny coalition.) and whispered gayness 'concerns (from dem centrists) didn't help, and that was just the local dems..still he did fairly well in losing..from jillian's comment:

    Brett Wagner is not the only one being defamed. His treasurer, Kinde Durkee, is held in the highest regard in the Democratic community. The implication that she has conducted herself in an unethical manner could ruin not just her reputation, but countless other candidates and officials who work with her. - Ventura County Star

    ..squinting all the while in the glare of a culture that radiates ultraviolet consumerism and infrared celebrity...Russell Brand

    by KenBee on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 08:29:49 PM PDT

    •  You're right; I have the first name wrong (2+ / 0-)
      Recommended by:
      KenBee, Lujane

      I'm correcting it to "Kinde," which is pronounced "KIN-dee."

      In my avatar, the blue bars show how many want Reps who COMPROMISE; the aqua bars show who wants Reps who STAND FAST no matter what. (Left=Overall; Center=Democrats; Right=Republicans.) And there's the problem!

      by Seneca Doane on Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 09:30:02 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Senator Lou Correa (1+ / 0-)
    Recommended by:
    Seneca Doane
    State Sen. Lou Correa told the publication he received a call from FBI officials late Friday night informing him Durkee had been arrested and he was likely a victim along with "many, many other victims."

    Correa said he believed he lost "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in campaign funds.


    http://northhollywood.patch.com/...

    by DaveVentura on Sun Sep 04, 2011 at 05:20:57 AM PDT

  •  I know what this must feel like (3+ / 0-)
    Recommended by:
    Renee, Seneca Doane, auron renouille

    but you need to take a deep breath. I'm a New Yorker, I've never heard of Kinde Durkee before, but I have heard of Alan Hevesi. He was another pillar of rectitude, until he wasn't. That was not a pleasant period in our local politics.

    All politicians, regardless of party, are just human beings, and fallible like the rest of us. Of course we would prefer that we place our trust in public servants who take that trust seriously, but we must be emotionally prepared for the possibility that they may succumb to temptation.

    Of course you should stick by her until she is proven guilty, but if she is, cut her loose and don't look back. What we're trying to achieve is far bigger than any one person.

    The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

    by sidnora on Sun Sep 04, 2011 at 07:30:07 AM PDT

    •  I lived in western Queens during the Hevesi (1+ / 0-)
      Recommended by:
      sidnora

      implosion.  I remember that unpleasant period well.  Not that I'm superstitous, but anyone want to suggest where I should move next?

      In my avatar, the blue bars show how many want Reps who COMPROMISE; the aqua bars show who wants Reps who STAND FAST no matter what. (Left=Overall; Center=Democrats; Right=Republicans.) And there's the problem!

      by Seneca Doane on Sun Sep 04, 2011 at 07:55:26 AM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Kindee worked for lying Slate Mailers (2+ / 0-)
    Recommended by:
    Seneca Doane, KenBee

    I remember receiving some VERY upsetting slate mailers when I lived down in Los Angeles that tracked back to Kindee. The very ones that were mentioned here on KOS for tricking Dems into voting for GOP sponsored issues. I remember VERY distinctly having to educate Dems into why they shouldn't bring those Slate Mailers to the ballot box.

    It pissed me off to no end. The Slate Mailer business was always slimey....and I couldn't trust anything that Kindee was involved with after that. Kindee is an opportunist...not a Democrat.

    I'm not going anywhere. I'm standing up, which is how one speaks in opposition in a civilized world. - Ainsley Hayes

    by jillian on Sun Sep 04, 2011 at 10:07:46 AM PDT

  •  unfortunately, this statement is going to come (0+ / 0-)

    faster than we all think,

    Today, the earthquake is still going on.  We crouch, with the ground shaking, hoping that we survive with the least possible damage.  "Terrible" barely begins to describe it.

    Please do not tell me you are involved by being a member of DK4....really get involved...... http://october2011.org/frontpage.....The goal is not to bring your adversaries to their knees but to their senses. -- Mahatma Gandhi

    by Mindmover on Sun Sep 04, 2011 at 12:33:44 PM PDT

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