Capitol Hill comes to OC this weekend. On Friday, doctor, U.S. Sen. and “Obamacare” critic Tom Coburn, R-Okla., has lunch with the Lincoln Club. County Republican Party Chairman Scott Baugh hosts an evening cocktail reception in his office for another outspoken critic of the Democrats’ health reform plans, South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint. And, at the other end of the political spectrum, House Speaker (and healthcare reform champion) Nancy Pelosi keynotes the OC Democratic Party’s Truman Dinner at the Hilton Irvine/OC Airport. On Saturday, 2008 prez candidate Mitt Romney, conservative thinker Bill Bennett and “cities” author Joel Kotkin speak at a Claremont Institute conference at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach …
Late alleged fraudster Danny Pang claimed ties to OC’s renown Irvine family to attract Taiwanese investors, according to a recent story in the Wall Street Journal. Pang introduced Morton Irvine Smith to Taiwanese bankers and gave presentations claiming the family was a major backer of his Irvine-based Private Equity Management Group. Smith told the Journal he didn’t have any real role with Pang and didn’t know details of his business dealings. Joan Irvine Smith suggested that Pang used her son as a “front guy” and said the family “had not one red cent in this venture.” The OC Register reports that a receiver is unloading a dozen properties that had been owned by Pang or PEM Group, including Joe’s Crab Shack on Mariner’s Mile in Newport Beach …
OC Supe and former county Treasurer John Moorlach, on giant state pension fund CalPers being under siege for its investment losses and practices: “One of the biggest ironies is that CalPers always lectured some publicly traded company on how it could better manage itself. Oops.” Steve Forbes, interviewed by Matt Welch in Reason magazine: “California’s at the edge of a cliff. They can’t print money. IOUs are not quite the same as legal tender” …
San Clemente-based off-road racer Heidi Steele has beaten the guys again, winning the Class 6 truck competition at the Baja 1000 in Ensenada; hubby and racing legend Cameron Steele finished eighth in the Trophy Truck class. Both are sponsored by Yokohama Tire Corp. in Fullerton …
OC trial lawyer Wylie Aitken has made the Irish Legal 100 list compiled by Irish America magazine and the Irish Voice newspaper. Aitken celebrated at a Washington, D.C., reception with Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and his honoree wife Mary Sullivan Roberts, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and Obama’s short-lived legal counsel Gregory Craig …
Veteran money manager Roger Palley, formerly of Neuberger Berman in Newport Beach, has joined First Foundation Advisors (formerly Keller Group) in Irvine …
Newport Beach ad man Steve O’Leary (O’Leary and Partners) has been elected to the U of Oregon Journalism School’s Hall of Achievement …
The World Affairs Council hosts former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Richard B. Myers at its Dec. 14 holiday dinner.
