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Political Hay
Feinstein Swindled
Some 200 California Democrat clients have fallen victim to a Madoff in their midst. Could it turn the state light blue?
It’s said that word-of-mouth advertising is the best kind. It certainly worked for Ms. Kinde Durkee for more than 12 years. It would still be working if she hadn’t helped herself to some of her clients’ bank accounts once too often.
Durkee’s nearly 200 clients weren’t stores and small factories. They were California Democratic office holders, candidates, and committees. For all those years she was the go-to person to be treasurer for any Democrat’s campaign accounts. Campaign treasurers serve as bankers and accountants for campaigns and see to the many complex state and federal reports required. There are few experts at this arcane craft in California. She was the best known and was trusted.
It isn’t yet known how much of her donors’ money she used for personal expenses, but it was a lot. It is alleged that as much as $1 million is missing collectively from client accounts. It may be months — even years — before this is unscrambled. Meanwhile, most of these clients do not have access to what is left in their accounts because she was the only person on their bank signature cards. Most of the accounts were at one bank in Southern California and it says it won’t release the remaining funds unless the clients sign “hold harmless” agreements to protect the bank.
To make matters more complicated, Durkee used a Ponzi-like technique to keep all the balls in the air. If she helped herself to a few thousand dollars from Officeholder A’s account, she would transfer that much from Officeholder B’s into A’s to make up for it. And so forth.
Garry South, a veteran Democrat consultant, told the Wall Street Journal that “…she might have removed millions of dollars from Democratic campaign coffers of 2012 and it might not be easy to replace.” The Los Angeles Democratic Central Committee, alone, estimates it has lost $200,000.
It’s not often that the California Democrats are in disarray, but they are right now. The affected parties are rushing to get access to their accounts, on the one hand, and trying to raise new money, on the other. It’s not the best position to be in with the 2012 election campaign not far off (the primary will be next June, campaign season will be in full swing by March, and planning season is now).
Sen. Dianne Feinstein is a Durkee victim. She doesn’t yet know how much her campaign account is out. She is up for re-election in 2012. A shrunken campaign bank account adds to some other factors that make her position less solid than it has been. She has been a big vote-getter for years (winning with 59 percent in 2006), but she is now 78 and may draw a strong challenger (Michael Reagan is considering it and, if well-funded, could mount a good campaign).
The latest Field Poll shows that 41 percent of California voters favor her re-election; 44 percent say “no.” In June it was 43 percent “for.” At this stage in her last campaign (2005) it was 52 percent. Her job approval rating is also 41 percent, down from 46 percent in June. All these factors might make the idea of retiring look more attractive than it has.
Meanwhile, the California Republican Party continues to labor under a registration deficiency (outnumbered by Democrats by better than 3-to-2). Under its new chairman, Tom Del Baccaro, it is mounting a statewide petition drive to put on the next ballot a referendum to stop the redistricting of the state senate. The new Citizens’ Redistricting Commission, threw two Republican seats together. The net loss of one would drop the party’s representation in the senate to under one-third, making it easier for Democrats to pass anything they want (i.e., spending and taxes).
He has also been conducting a series of town-hall type meetings around the state to pump up party worker enthusiasm and to tell the public of the party’s emphasis on opportunity, pro-growth tax policies, and state spending restraint.
When your party is in the numerical minority, your best chance lies in uniting all your members, then trying to pull in others. An unexpected campaign blessing may be the damage done to Democrats’ treasuries by Kinde Durkee’s use of their accounts to pay her own bills.
About the Author
Peter Hannaford was closely associated for a number of years with the late President Reagan, beginning in the California Governor’s office. His latest book is Presidential Retreats.
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Negro X| 9.19.11 @ 6:11AM
They wer obamocared,ha!
Brian Mc| 9.19.11 @ 6:44AM
A party of criminals being fleeced from within...what a joy to start the week!
JmsA| 9.19.11 @ 11:37AM
I agree wholeheartedly. What a wonderful way to start the week.
Cosmo| 9.20.11 @ 2:58AM
California used to be a dream...Now it's a nightmare...Illegal aliens outnumber Republicans 2-1. And they vote.
Hebe| 9.19.11 @ 6:52AM
Yeah. I agree.
http://www.besthandbagsshopping.com
http://www.wholesalehatsshop.com
MOS was 71331| 9.19.11 @ 10:44AM
Another Hebe advertising post. Please add some controls, such as a simple question which must be answered, to prevent automatic posting programs from wasting our time.
beebop| 9.19.11 @ 7:04PM
please delete this bigot immediately
oldfart| 9.19.11 @ 6:59AM
When a species resorts to cannibalism it is a sure sign that the end is near. LOL
tsd| 9.19.11 @ 7:47AM
Seems she is about as good at handling her own money as she is at handling ours... she just keeps throwing it away. She is just a part of the sickness of stupidity in Washington.
Melvin| 9.19.11 @ 8:03AM
Oh, the agony. This woman who quietly resigned from her committee of government contracts, that steered millions of dollars to her husbands construction company has the gall to complain that she got hosed.
This rational is like, a drug dealer calling the police, that someone stole the drug dealer's dope.
Timothy L. Pennell| 9.19.11 @ 8:36AM
I was just gonna say that. Good job, Melvin.
And, of course, she's a huge supporter of Green Energy. (Aren't we all?) Unless someone wants to put a SOLAR FARM in the Dessert, and the Environmentalists (and, all their MONEY) don't want it, there.
russel| 9.19.11 @ 11:34AM
Ditto's too . The queen Pelosi is so needy she had to fly Air Force Airways . Have the public pick up the bar tab . ( Did she get burned , anyone ? Or wishfully Waxman ) . The one really is down is poor Loretta Sanchez . She's yet to make her millions and really does need that money . Ah , as Rush lamented , Ca. is dead and cooked . Let's pray Texas won't follow .
MOS was 71331| 9.19.11 @ 10:47AM
How can I persuade the California Ds to let me replace Durkee? I'd be glad to handle their finances from any country that doesn't have an extradition treaty with the US.
hardcard| 9.19.11 @ 8:29AM
Looks like Di Di got a taste of her own stew.
Lullabys, Legends and Lies| 9.19.11 @ 8:39AM
Sometimes I wonder how far California has to fall, before the People wake up, and finally see the one constant problem they have that has caused all their problems, which is the Democratic Party!! Unfortunately, I don't think they'll wake up before it's too late, before their entire economy lies in ruin, before all the productive People have fled to other States, before all the Cities begin to burn during the coming riots. I hope Ms. Kinde Durkee spent every single dollar she could get her filthy hands on, and that the lack of these funds help destroy all these Democrats chances at re-election. Maybe then, there will be a chance for California to change it's unfortunate fatal destiny!! It's too good to be true, but one can hope, huh?
Redstateboy| 9.19.11 @ 9:19AM
oh... the poor widdle California Democrat party got ripped off..... GOOD! maybe it'll give the people of California a break from the oppressiviness of the Slave Party for a little while but then... don't the people of California Deserve it their punishment anyway??
spoofproof| 9.19.11 @ 9:43AM
The Democrat Political Party is like a ship whose captain & crew are drunk with power. Their evil ship, The Marxist Democrat, is drifting into shoal water. The Marxist Democrat's passengers are also stoned & wandering the decks, hoping dinner won't be served late.
loulou| 9.19.11 @ 10:07AM
This is funny! Kinde (Kinde??) isn't going to be put in jail, is she?
MOS was 71331| 9.19.11 @ 10:50AM
She probably has the funds to hire good lawyers to prevent or greatly delay her imprisonment.
SCM| 9.19.11 @ 12:49PM
Ms Durkee must be a Republican mole in the Democratic Party. Since Democarts never cheat or lie, this can be the only explanation!
Pelligrino| 9.19.11 @ 1:19PM
Somehow I anguish that the millions of $ scammed off these Democrat incumbents/candidates' accounts will be slowly, surely replenished by well heeled lobbies like the usual Hollywood suspects and even the porn industry moguls.
Vice sells and the peddlers of vice have $ --- and, yes, they'll always use it to 'manage' those who will permit the evils to continue.
This has been asked here before: Is not Mitt Romney now a California resident? I believe he is. San Diego, right?
Now, we here may have our differences with Mr. Romney, but surely he can 1) take on Dem-on Feinstein, 2) win, and 3) then prove his bonafides for trust for perhaps someday the presidency.
Why not, Mitt? Run for the U.S. Sentate -- that opening California seat.
He's young enough still to do that job, IMMEDIATELY then help RESCUE the Golden State, and then....well, then perhaps run as a more seasoned man for the White House.
Just rescuing California and good Californians (who are wilting on the vine) would be doing a lasting service to the entire nation.
George S| 9.19.11 @ 1:24PM
Democrats should all take comfort in the wisdom of Rep. Schakowsky: "I'll put it this way. You don't deserve to keep all of it."
cowgirl| 9.19.11 @ 2:23PM
Ms. Durke should be put in charge of Social Security and Bernie Madoff can be her secretary.
ABNCP| 9.19.11 @ 2:37PM
What isn't know is that this lady was a secret G.W. Bush supporter. She probably was sending that money to help finance Bush. At least that will surely be the excuse the Dems come up with in the end. They try to blame him for everything else. I mean just saying.
D Roamer | 9.19.11 @ 3:00PM
This is a good sign how the Democrats handle the "peoples money", meaning donations for campaign functions from supporters. Take note, that this mishandling of intrusted funds, they are all Democrats. They have to take full responsibility, don't pass the buck down to their staff.
PattyMor| 9.19.11 @ 4:15PM
If they can't properly vet their accountant, why would you trust them to spend the money from the U.S. Treasury properly or properly vet appointees and judges? Humm..
Pat| 9.19.11 @ 5:10PM
Top Reasons NOT to Live in California:
Your $800,000 home is poorly constructed and cost a mere $50,000 to build – the remainder of the purchase price went to political bribes, fees, permits, government cost sharing and commissions.
Other than elected officials, no employee within California’s state government is a native English speaker but they do politely adopt Anglo names like John or Mary when answering the phone.
Jobs are constantly leaving the state as private businesses are forced out but the voters stubbornly remain – which, in essence, means that folks in other states are subsidizing California courtesy of Washington and as related to the “One State, One Political Party” concept.
The “One State, One Political Party” form of government makes voting a snap, assuming you bother to vote.
Only 6 registered Republicans remain within the state, but 3 of them are currently residing in senior citizens’ terminal care facilities.
California bans all hunting of dangerous predators, the mountain lions and bears didn’t get that memo unfortunately and several joggers are currently missing.
Proposition 13 keeps property taxes from rising more than 1% per year – however, there is no legal limit on increasing local fees and special assessments related to owning property.
California enthusiastically supports all presently known forms of taxation but is generous in providing tax exemptions if you’re in either the wine making or motion picture industries.
California’s economic growth bears absolutely no resemblance to Texas’ economic growth.
Top Reasons to Live in California:
Good Mexican and Chinese food. Plus, the use of Velveeta cheese in enchiladas is banned by statute.
The state’s famous warm climate, sunny skies and low humidity are not taxed – as of this moment.
Occam's Tool| 9.19.11 @ 11:48PM
The Mexican food in California is far inferior to New Mexico's. I lived in Las Cruces and Los Angeles.
I like NM weather better than LA, too.
Dave | 9.19.11 @ 5:27PM
Well, kids, this scam is kind of funny when you realize who was on the receiving end. However, I wouldn't kick-in the giggle reflex TOO loudly. I've been living in this plot of formerly golden dirt since 1949 and can tell ya' that with all the unions, people on the public dole and illegal (voting) aliens, the JackAss party has more than enough drones on the cliff to keep this very blue state in a deep shade of indigo for a good many years. More!
See, California's NOW achieved what Barry's trying to create nationally: A population class; dependent on the government for their sustainable, day to day goodies. That and keeping up with the cost of gas and the new light bulbs.
Sadly, the state's lemming population is just too large. And the numbers don't lie. They just don't.
With God all things r possible| 9.19.11 @ 6:22PM
It's been said that you can't do vice virtuously.
The Democrats in California are, no doubt, up to no good and are cutting corners on fundraising and use of campaign and all other kinds of money. They likely wanted someone who would be complicit in their fraud. They forgot one thing--bad character cannot be not compartmented. They hired a cheat and got cheated.
But there's more! Their consciences are so corrupted that they cannot tell the difference between right and wrong, or between good and evil people. Without that discernment, they hire bad people.
While they won't likely learn anything from this, we can be grateful for one thing: their shower of moral incontinence soaked themselves instead of us, the taxpayers.
NJK| 9.19.11 @ 7:40PM
We reap what we sow madam.
POST American| 9.20.11 @ 1:33AM
----------------BOTTOMLESS LINE--------------------
----Tavistock '90's Show' DIS--traction OP ----
---------------------ALERT!-----------------------
Meanwhile, still NOT A WORD about the
greatest world nuclear disaster,and budding
DEPOP OP, which is now into its 7th month of
raining its goodness across California and
North America.
-------------------FUKISHIMA-----------------------
-------------------FUKISHIMA-----------------------
-------------------FUKISHIMA-----------------------
ALLLLLLL else is DIS-----traction.
souliers mbt | 9.20.11 @ 4:47AM
ok!
MikeBee| 9.20.11 @ 11:49PM
Can we get her to run the finances for Obama's reelection campaign? I'm sure that she did this because she was a victim of something. It was society's fault, not her own. In fact, she DESERVES a spot on Obama's finance team.