Casting call for Hertzberg *

No blog, especially not this one, can post on everything. There is just too much going on. So we pick and choose. One of the surest ways an item makes the cut here is if it reveals some small insight into the way things really work in the media, in the city, in politics. Let other websites swallow the fairy tale that candidates believe everything they say, ignore the polls and don't cut deals with contributors.

This item from the new blog of the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats doesn't shed light on any big secrets, but it's amusing. In it, the Young Dems are trying to wrangle up some "regular citizens" for the next Hertzberg ad.

Here's a political request you don't hear every day: Bob Hertzberg is looking for extras for his latest campaign commercial. Here's the pitch:

Bob Hertzberg will be shooting his new commercial this weekend and we need your help. We are looking for extras to be in the commercial, so if you or anyone you know fit one of the descriptions below, and would like to help us out and be on TV, please call or e-mail Manuel Silva at (818) 285-0191 or manuelsilva10@yahoo.com.

They are looking for child actors for Friday, but on Saturday they will need 15 or so "regular citizens." If you are a regular citizen, or know of any, why not give 'em a call? Before you know it, you could be hearing, "Hey, aren't you that guy/gal in the background in that political commercial?"

[* Friday Update: It appears the Democrats have stricken the casting call from their blog. That's no fun. Also, blogger Cinemocracy called to volunter but was told he wasn't "regular" enough.]

The Young Dems Club has endorsed Hertzberg. Scanning down the blog, an earlier item also gives faint praise to the Daily News for getting on board:

If the Daily News isn't careful, it's going to lose its reputation as the Valley's most reactionary conservative rag. irst the paper's editorial board published an eloquent endorsement of John Kerry for President, inciting the wrath of every GOP letter-to-the-editor writer in town. Today we open the paper to find they've endorsed Bob Hertzberg for mayor in a piece that finds words of praise for all four of Mayor Hahn's challengers. And they didn't once mention GOP windbag Walter Moore!

I ask you, have a pack of raving moderates staged a coup at the Daily News headquarters? Where now shall discriminating wingnuts turn for editorials that pander to their narrow worldview? If the Daily News keeps making such bold endorsements, they might have to give up their influence over Valley GOoPers - and influence actual voters instead.

Elsewhere, another Hertzberg blogger, BoifromTroy, comments on the county Republicans' snub of Walter Moore.