Boomer Email Tied to Aging Right Wing Operative Pushes Extremist Glendale Slate

Readers forwarded us an email that appeared to be sent out by former County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, but was actually written by Louis William Barnett, Concerned Republican of Glendale and a life-long high-level party operative.

Warning of "Socialists" in Glendale, the text rambled on about bike lanes (a right wing proxy for "woke"), electric rates and public pensions. The message endorsed an extremist slate before inviting the recipient to a gathering in Oakmont.

Barnett/Antonovich's Glendale City Council endorsees included Patrick Murphy, Alex "Blekian" (Balekian), and Beth Brooks (does sleeper MAGA physician Carolyn Kaloostian know she's been sidelined?). The email's Glendale School Board endorsees included Greg Krikorian, Debbie Blute, and "union terminator" Janet Balekian (Blekian).

For anyone interested in attending, you need only hit "replay" to the email!

When it comes to the vast right wing network of think tanks, bill mills, lobbying orgs, and legal ministries Mr. Barnett is a standout figure- in it from the glory days of the Gipper- whose PAC he founded and led.

Barnett is a co-founder-- with Heritage Foundation founder Paul Weyrich-- of the far-right American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, which has authored hundreds of pieces of legislation over the past 5 decades. (Guess proofreading wasn't part of his skillset!) ALEC's notable positions and legislative priorities over four decades include: voter ID laws, opposing divestment from apartheid era South Africa, denying climate change and undermining environmental regulations, defunding unions, privatizing education, opposing gun control and restricting immigration. ALEC is supported by the Koch and Bradley foundations amongst extensive dark money donors and is also a non-profit, paying no money in federal taxes! But, SOCIALISM!!!!

Adding to Barnett's far right bona fides is his past work with the Leadership Institute, Morton Blackwell's brainchild and the largest "conservative training" org in the country-- somehow ALSO a non-profit. Long-time readers may remembers Leadership Institute acting as the training arm for Moms for Liberty and a frequent hub for Glendale/SoCal LOKA extremists as they were recruited and trained as party operatives.

Barnett's definitely non-partisan Leadership Institute

The email mentions Bill Taliafarro, who is hosting the Concerned Boomer Meetup. Mr. Bill lives in a 5 bedroom house and pays less than $2000/year in property taxes (based on publicly available information.)

paying less than $160/month in property taxes and being terrified of bike lanes

Remember kids, investing in safer streets is socialism, but state tax subsidies for millionaires is PATRIOTIC.

Those bike lanes on La Crescenta will RUIN his golf course-adjacent property values for sure.