California Archives
This is a very large file. For the full smaller digest version, click here.Lawsuit challenging California in-state tuition for illegal aliens reinstated
From this:A state appeals court has reinstated a lawsuit [Martinez v. Regents of the University of California, CV052064] challenging a policy that allows some illegal immigrants to pay lower in-state tuition to attend California's public colleges and universities.It's worth pointing out what the Associated press isn't being as clear as they should be regarding this issue: U.S. citizens were required to pay a higher rate than foreign citizens who are here illegally. That's a direct threat to the entire concept of citizenship.
The 3rd District Court of Appeal in Sacramento said Monday that a lower court erred in dismissing the suit brought by 42 students who paid far more to attend college because they were out-of-state residents.
The University of California is looking into appealing the ruling.
Gavin Newsom: fines unless Frisco residents meticulously sort their trash
From this:Garbage collectors would inspect San Francisco residents' trash to make sure pizza crusts aren't mixed in with chip bags or wine bottles under a proposal by Mayor Gavin Newsom.Read the whole thing for much more, such as this handy chart showing what would go where. And, below the chart is Newsom's new theme song.
And if residents or businesses don't separate the coffee grounds from the newspapers, they would face fines of up to $1,000 and eventually could have their garbage service stopped...
California Department of Public Health backs away from Balkans ("Our Neighborhood, Our Rules")
One of the many ways the California Department of Public Health spends "their" money is on the "Network for a Healthy California" (cachampionsforchange.net), which operates a website promoting a healthy diet and which puts up billboards such as that seen here or in the following screengrab of this page cachampionsforchange.net/en/OurCommunity.php:
There are many things one could say about this effort and the billboard specifically, with nanny statism being the least concern. The main concern is that such billboards foster the belief that one group of people - specifically, one ethnicity - "owns" a neighborhood. Don't think that? Well, then imagine the "concern" if a billboard similar to the above used a white woman; wouldn't non-whites be more than a bit concerned and wouldn't they have a point?
As another example a new form of the billboard has been spotted using a less Balkans-oriented tag line: "My Kitchen, My Rules" (photo of a similar ad here). I spotted that billboard on Western around Pico on the edges of Koreatown; the area where it was spotted is a previously mostly black area now trending Latino, and the billboard featured a black woman. I doubt whether Latinos in the area would appreciate her image proclaiming it to be "her" neighborhood.
I don't think anything - except the absurdly easy task of completely discrediting the far-lefties in the California legislature - could be done about campaigns like this, but perhaps even the CDPH realized there are limits to far-leftism.
Arnold Schwarzenegger: don't blame illegal aliens for California budget woes
Continuing his descent into becoming a PC Democratic clown, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was asked today what he wants to do about the costs of illegal immigration on the state. He said blaming illegal aliens would be a "big mistake". How about we blame illegal immigration supporters - or passive enablers like Arnold himself - for their actions, which have indeed played a role in the state's financial difficulties? Unfortunately, whatever the original question was it wasn't subtle enough, enabling Arnie to basically engage in lawyerly obfuscation:
"There is, you know, always a time like this where you start pointing the finger at various different elements of what creates the budget mess, and, you know, some may point the finger at illegal immigrants... I can guarantee you, I have been now four years in office in Sacramento, I don't think that illegal immigration has created the mess that we are in."
It certainly hasn't "created" it, but it has played a role. And, if Arnie had fought those who support illegal activity - such as Fabian Nunez - instead of collaborating with them, he could have had an impact on both reducing illegal immigration and also with cleaning up Sacramento in relation to other matters.
Vote No on Prop 93 (bogus term limits proposition would keep Fabian Nunez, Gil Cedillo in office)
I urge all Californians to vote No on Prop 93, the term limits proposition. It's an obviously deceptive measure that pretends to limit term limits for legislators, but which in fact would allow people like Fabian Nunez, Don Perata, and Gil Cedillo to remain in office instead of being termed out.
In fact, if the proposition passes, Nunez could remain Speaker until 2014 and Perata Senate president until 2012. For more information, see the opposition site at stopprop93.com.
Those who will be termed out also include such worthies as Lloyd Levine, Paty Berg, Mervyn Dymally, Betty Karnette, Mark Leno, Sheila Kuehl, and Gloria Romero. A full list is in the PDF available here. Unfortunately, Tom McClintock would also be affected, but at least temporarily depriving the rest of their power is worth it.
Those who are pushing the proposition (link) include the CA Democratic Party, former governor Gray Davis, Rep. Barbara Lee, San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom, and various union, business, racial power, and environmental groups such as the Sierra Club of California. Needless to say, those groups have power over many of the legislators who would be affected.
Another pusher is Arnold Schwarzenegger, who offered "Reform term limits" (link) earlier this month and even appears in an ad for the measure (link). Oddly enough, he doesn't mention that the measure is obviously intended to deceive and would keep people like Nunez and Cedillo in power.
Related to that:
But state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, the only other Republican holding statewide office in California, suggested Schwarzenegger agreed to back Proposition 93 to get concessions from legislative leaders on other issues... "That's my conclusion after looking at all the facts I have," said Poizner, a wealthy former Silicon Valley businessman who has contributed $1.5 million of his own money to the anti-93 campaign. "I'm disappointed and not too surprised that in this type of environment that the governor got pushed into a corner where he thought he had to make this kind of a deal in order to make progress with legislative leaders." ...Schwarzenegger is seeking legislative support this year for a $14 billion health care reform plan, a constitutional amendment to change the state budgeting process and massive upgrades to the state's water system.
Fabian Nunez has healthcare activists arrested at California Capitol?
I haven't researched this, but Jamie Court of the "Foundation For Taxpayer and Consumer Rights" (and founder of an anti-Arnold Schwarzenegger site) says:Even I was shocked to hear that California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez directed the California Highway Patrol to prevent our consumer group and an uninsured Massachusetts teacher from speaking out inside the Capitol against mandatory health insurance. The Capitol's famous rotunda is routinely used for press conferences by lobbyists and politicians...UPDATE: Nunez spokesman Steven Maviglio - or at least someone using his name - posts in comments an alternative view of the incident. This doesn't appear to have been covered by the MSM, and no video is provided by Jamie Court.
Though they complied with the California Highway Patrol's order to leave the building, my colleagues Jerry Flanagan and Carmen Balber were later informed they are being written up for misdemeanors. They were also told our consumer group would not be able to speak to the press in the rotunda in the future. Nunez and the CHP will be hearing from our lawyers soon...
ArnieCare: budget busting universal healthcare in California (illegal aliens, Fabian Nunez, Don Perata)
Unlike, say, Grover Norquist, I'm not a reflexive opponent of some form of universal healthcare, at least on the face of it. But, as with other things there's frequently a hidden agenda, such as people pushing UHC who have wider goals. Does anyone think Arnold Schwarzenegger, Fabian Nunez, and Andy Stern of the SEIU (pictured right) are just humble albeit misguided progressive servants of the greater good?
And, there's the matter of corporatism, as those who are some degree of crook want everyone else to pay the full and true cost for their workers. And, of course, there's the insanity of providing a huge array of public services at the same time as allowing loose borders. And, there's the insanity of threatening to declare a fiscal emergency and then just a few days later having a vote on a massive UHC plan.
Yes, the insanity I'm discussing is in California, right now. From the 14th (link):
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will declare a state of fiscal emergency under never-before-used rules that would force lawmakers into a special session to address a $14 billion deficit. The governor, touring a hospital in Long Beach, said he will declare the emergency in January when lawmakers return from recess. Under the action, the Legislature would have 45 days to find ways to plug the shortfall, including cutting spending from the current budget.Flash forward to earlier today ("California Assembly approves plan to overhaul health care system", Tom Chorneau, link):
California's Assembly approved a landmark overhaul of the state's estimated $190 billion-a-year health care system Monday, setting the stage for a vote in the state Senate in the coming weeks.The problem is that a large part of that 6.8 million are illegal aliens who should not be here in the first place. And, by offering benefits, we'll attract even more people, leading to an even greater problem. By restricting benefits (as Proposition 187 tried to do), we can reduce the number of those who shouldn't be here. That will to a certain degree reduce consumer spending and the like, but overall it will leave more for U.S. citizens and those who are here legally. If the Legislature wants UHC, they should be responsible enough to try to reduce illegal immigration in California. And, that will make the sales job even easier, as people no longer have to guess whether those pushing this scheme are in one way or another agents of or at the least useful idiots for the Mexican government. Of course, whether people like Fabian Nunez, Gil Cedillo, and others really represent U.S. interests or Mexican interests is a very open question.
The proposal, which has the support of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as well as some key labor unions and a handful of big corporations, would require all Californians to have health insurance through their employers or government-sponsored programs, or to purchase it on the open market.
The new system, which also would require voter approval, would be financed by a new tax on hospitals, an increase in the tobacco tax, billions of new federal matching funds, and a tax on employers of up to 6.5 percent of their payrolls.
Supporters say the overhaul would reduce the cost of health care because most of the estimated 6.8 million uninsured residents, who now receive care at hospital emergency rooms, would get the benefit of regular doctor visits and preventive care once they were covered.
Whether he's playing a game or not, Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata wants a study of the costs first, apparently specifically because it has to not only be passed by the Legislature and then signed by Arnie but also be approved by the voters.
I didn't read the whole bill since it's around half a meg of text. While some parts of it seem like they might restrict benefits to non-illegal aliens, others have the opposite effect (link):
...On and after July 1, 2009, children who otherwise meet eligibility requirements for the program but for their immigration status are eligible for the program.Note also that neither the SFGate article above, nor the Mercury News version from Mike Zapler (link), nor the Los Angeles Times version ("State Assembly backs healthcare for everyone" by Jordan Rau and Patrick McGreevy, link) mention anything about immigration.
...Notwithstanding any other provision of law, on and after July 1, 2009, a child who is otherwise eligible to participate in the program shall not be determined ineligible solely on the basis of his or her immigration status.
...An individual under the age of 19 years who would be eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal benefits without a share of cost, if not for his or her immigration status, shall be eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal services under this section.
...To establish that the individual meets the immigration requirements under this section, the parent or caretaker relative shall sign under penalty of perjury an attestation that the individual is not described in any of the categories enumerated on the attestation for which federal financial participation for full-scope services is available.
Fabian Nunez: corporate donations to a charity funneled to his events
For an unknown reason, the Los Angeles Times is trying to get rid of Fabian Nunez. While I welcome this, I can't help but wonder why. The latest is here (via this):Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez used a small charity as a conduit to funnel almost $300,000 from companies and organizations with business in the Capitol to events that helped him politically.
By giving to the charity, the donors whom Nunez solicited earned tax deductions for which they would not have qualified had they given directly to Nunez's campaign accounts. They were also able to donate more than the $7,200 maximum allowed under California's campaign fundraising rules.
Those donors include Zenith Insurance Co., AT&T, Verizon Communications Inc., the California Hospital Assn., the state prison guards union, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and Blue Cross of California -- all groups with high stakes in legislation.
The money was used for events including "Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez's Toy Drive," "Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez's Soccerfest 2006," "Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez's Inaugural Legislative Youth Conference" and airplane flights for 50 children from Nunez's district for "Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez's Sacramento Student Summit," according to state documents...
Even California Nurses Association turns on Fabian Nunez (wife's conflict of interest)
From this:The California Nurses Association demanded Tuesday that Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez abstain from voting on health-care legislation because his wife works for a nonprofit agency bankrolled by the hospital industry.Hillary Clinton campaign co-chair Nunez must no longer be useful to those in power, or perhaps they're Obama supporters who are trying to make Hillary's campaign more difficult. Just recently, the Los Angeles Times - usually a staunch ignorer of malfeasance by Democrats, especially former MEChA members - has run negative articles on him, as have the AP and the Sacramento Bee.
"Californians can no longer trust that he will represent the public interest and not the financial interest of a large industry that has put his wife on their payroll," Zenei Cortez, spokeswoman for the association and for the National Nurses Organizing Committee, said in a written statement Tuesday.
The Bee reported Tuesday that Nunez's wife, Maria Robles, was hired at a six-figure salary in January to serve as president of Californians for Patient Care, a Sacramento-based nonprofit agency that receives nearly all its funding from the California Hospital Association...
Fabian Nunez shares luxury downtown L.A. penthouse with fundraiser Dan Weitzman
From this:State Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez shares a luxury downtown penthouse with a prominent fundraiser [Dan Weitzman] who has collected nearly $600,000 in fees and expenses from Nunez's political committees and the state Democratic Party since 2005.A map of the 46th Assembly District is here. It's surprising that he choose a luxury downtown penthouse (what he calls a "loft") instead of such glamorous locations as Pico-Union, South L.A., Maywood, Huntington Park, or the industrial paradise known as Vernon. Maybe it's just because Cudahy is outside of his district.
State law places no restrictions on legislators living with friends or fundraisers, but some government watchdog groups say such arrangements can raise potential conflicts because of the proximity of political power and contributors' money.
Nunez, a Los Angeles Democrat and one of the state's most powerful dealmakers, pays $1,000 of the $4,325 rent to live part-time in the loft-style penthouse in his district, which has 20-foot ceilings and jetliner views...
Fabian Nunez runs from reporter (questionable luxury expenditures)
Last week, the LAT reported on lavish expenditures by California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (also a Hillary Clinton campaign co-chair). Now, oddly enough, Miriam Hernandez of KABC-TV tried to ask him about those luxury purchases. However, Nunez apparently didn't want to talk and she ended up following him down a hallway and being held back by security: link.
From last year and along the same lines:
Fabian Nunez denies making racist speech (Prop. 187)
Fabian Nunez' questionable expenditures (luxury foreign hotels, goods)
California Assembly speaker and Hillary Clinton campaign co-chair Fabian Nunez must be on the outs with the Politburo, because the Los Angeles Times offers "Nunez travels the world like a high-roller" (link):[...his spending] includes $47,412 on United, Lufthansa and Air France airlines this year; $8,745 at the exclusive Hotel Arts in Barcelona, Spain; $5,149 for a "meeting" at Cave L'Avant Garde, a wine seller in the Bordeaux region of France; a total of $2,562 for two "office expenses" at Vuitton, two years apart; and $1,795 for a "meeting" at Le Grand Colbert, a venerable Parisian restaurant.
...Other expenses are closer to home: a $1,715 meeting at Asia de Cuba restaurant in West Hollywood; a $317 purchase at upscale Pavilion Salon Shoes in Sacramento; a $2,428 meeting at 58 Degrees and Holding, a Sacramento wine bar and bistro; and $800 spent at Dollar Rent a Car in Kihei, Hawaii.
...Given a list of 99 entries culled from his campaign finance filings, however, Nunez's staff refused to show how the expenditures were related to California government or politics...
..."There's not too big a difference," [Nunez] said, "between how I live and how most middle-class people live."
...He received a total of $1.9 million in 2005 and 2006 from unions, corporations and others with a perennial stake in legislative business. They include $17,300 from AT&T and Verizon, phone companies that pushed Nunez legislation allowing them to compete against cable television companies, and $2,500 from a group of pharmaceutical companies affected by a Nunez bill to create a prescription drug discount program.
The State Building and Construction Trades Council of California donated $5,000 in February 2006, one day before a bill it sponsored was introduced in the Assembly.
The state Democratic Party, which unlike officeholders can raise unlimited sums, transferred $4 million to Nunez's campaign account last November.
...Similarly, the tax-exempt William C. Velasquez Institute, a policy think tank focused on Latino issues, paid $6,169 toward Nunez's 2005 trip to France and Sweden to study universal preschool. The institute also helped finance Nunez's trip to France in April to study high-speed rail, according to institute President Antonio Gonzalez...
Contact Arnold Schwarzenegger re: Gil Cedillo's financial aid for illegal aliens bill
California state senator Gil Cedillo - sometimes called "One Bill Gil" due to his constant attempts to pass a bill giving driver's licenses to illegal aliens - actually has come up with a multitude of bills designed to give benefits to those who are here illegally. The latest now sits on Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk, awaiting his possible signature.
SB 1 (link) would allow illegal aliens to receive "non-competitive" financial aid for college. Those covered under the "Competitive Cal Grant A and B award program" are not included, but the term "non-competitive" is misleading since every dollar spent on giving such financial aid to illegal aliens could be spent on giving aid to U.S. citizens. That's certainly a difficult choice, but the only way to avoid such choices is to stop incentivizing illegal immigration in addition to encouraging illegal aliens to return to their home countries.
According to this, Arnold hasn't yet made up his mind; he veteod the last try and said the following:
"California has over 100,000 students here legally who apply annually for financial aid to attend college, and our state has limited funds available for this important purpose."
You can send Arnold a FAX here, or just call 916-445-2841.
California dentists welcome new mandatory dental exams for kindergarteners
California has a new law mandating dental exams for kindergarteners in public schools. But, it has "few teeth" (ouch!), Barbara Feder Ostrov of Mercury News "reports" (link).Children will not be barred from school if they do not get the checkup. Parents who can't afford the exam, lack insurance coverage or simply do not want their child's dental health evaluated can sign a waiver to opt out of the requirement. And because the law does not require treatment of problems identified during screenings, some critics believe it will do little to get poor or uninsured children the dental care they need.It's good to hear them say that, since (at least according to this), the California Dental Association "sponsored" the legislation from Assemblymen Bill Emmerson and John Laird. They've even got a helpful page at their site describing the new law.
Yet dentists remain hopeful that the new rule will help improve the oral health of California's schoolchildren, noting that tooth decay in some kids can be so severe and painful that it keeps them from learning or even eating properly.
After the excerpt above, "reporter" Ostrov backs up their claims with studies and then directs readers to the CDA's site for more information.
What she doesn't do is contact anyone who might wonder about what links the CDA has to those who sponsored or voted for this legislation. "Following the money" is so old skool, dontcha know.
Hillary co-chair Fabian Nunez gets $2 million to keep him in office
From this:A California legislator who is national co chair of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign has secretly exceeded contribution limits by having special interests - with laws before him - donate hefty sums to a ballot measure that will keep him in office longer.
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, a Democrat and well-known figure of the La Raza pro illegal immigration movement, has found a creative way to violate state laws that restrict political donations to $7,200 by instead having millions contributed to his top cause; a bill that will actually rewrite California's term-limit law to allow him to serve another six years in the legislature.
If the law doesn't pass, Nunez will be termed out of office in 2008 and if it does he will serve another six years. This is why deep-pocketed special interest groups—including corporations, unions, utilities and gambling enterprises--have bankrolled his coveted ballot measure by donating nearly $2 million to help it succeed...
Fabian Nunez: LAPD officers set out to do "target practice" on "immigrants"
California Assembly Speaker and Hillary Clinton co-chair Fabian Nunez, speaking about the MacArthur Park mini-riot, says today:"There are no excuses, a simple apology is not going to suffice... To say we are outraged is an understatement. We want those responsible in the highest levels of the LAPD to pay consequences."What he said yesterday is far, far worse:
[Nunez] said police deliberately led troublemakers back to the peaceful marchers before beginning their assault.If you assume as I do that Nunez simply represents Mexico and its citizens, everything he says and does makes perfect sense.
"The only logical conclusion I can come to is that somebody wanted it to bleed into the march so that they can do some target practice on some of the immigrants that were marching," Nunez said.
Related:
AVWatch: Villaraigosa promoting allegedly Mexico-linked group
Generous: Mexico might pay part of UHC for Mexicans in California!
The San Francisco Chronicle's Tyche Hendricks offers "Mexico's health czar seeks better care for Mexicans in California". The new Felipe Calderon administration is developing a system of universal health care and they want to extend it to their citizens living in California. And, in a wonderful sign of generosity, they might pay part of the bill!How very, very kind of them. Of course, it might be just a tad kinder if they would encourage their citizens who are here illegally to return home, but baby steps and all.
Mexico's new secretary of health [Jose Angel Cordova Villalobos] visited San Francisco on Monday to learn about the health needs of the millions of Mexican immigrants living in California and to further collaborate with state officials to meet those needs.Later on, Gutierrez utters cheap labor pimp-style comments, with scare tactics provided by "Xochitl Castaneda, director of the Health Initiative of the Americas, a project of the California Policy Research Center in the office of the UC president".
...The former hospital chief and medical school director from the state of Guanajuato said he plans to meet every six months with U.S. health officials and Mexican immigrant communities to create a basic health care plan to cover Mexicans in the United States and eventually extend to them a system of universal health care that is being developed by the Calderon administration...
...Cordova's visit this early in the Calderon administration means Mexico may intend to share the health care burden, said [Mario Gutierrez, director of rural health programs at the California Endowment], whose foundation is trying to help craft a basic health insurance policy for Mexican immigrants whereby each worker would pay for insurance jointly with his or her employer and the Mexican government...
...Cordova countered [criticisms that Mexico is always trying to rip us off] that both countries are responsible and that U.S. employers who hire Mexican workers also should provide them health coverage.
"The responsibility is shared. They're here but they're ours. Right now, the care is insufficient," Cordova said.
CA School Superintendent Jack O'Connell is a politically-correct fool
Speaking on the John Ziegler radio program some months ago, California School Superintendent Jack O'Connell sang the "diversity is our strength" song, but also mentioned that students from a certain ethnic background don't place a high premium on female education. Despite bring pressed a few times, he refused to give a hint as to which group he was refering to.He's still humming past failure:
O'Connell also waded into the immigration issue Tuesday [in a talke with the editorial board of the NC Times], saying public schools are required by law to educate any school-aged child in the state, regardless of immigration status.I'm no education expert, and I fully realize that many "studies" are simply stories fashioned around an agenda, and I realize that other factors may be involved, but it didn't take much work to find out that we've got a major problem.
"Twenty-five years ago there was a federal court decision that said, 'They're here,' " O'Connell said, emphasizing the federal mandates that require the state to provide a free, equal and appropriate public education for all.
Educating every student, regardless of origin, is not only required by law, but it's good for the state, O'Connell said.
"There's a reason we are the sixth- or seventh- largest economy in the world as a state, and that is our diversity," O'Connell said. "I think that's a strength."
In the "Smartest State" chart, CA is at #47, in the friendly company of Nevada, Arizona, Mississippi, Alabama, Alaska, and Louisiana.
Another study was more favorable: CA was only at #34. The 2003 "National Assessment of Educational Progress" apparently didn't rank other states, but doesn't give CA high marks.
Continuing his idiocy:
One of the best ways to meet the needs of minority students in cities such as Oakland and Los Angeles where "more than 100 languages are spoken" is to hire minority teachers from the same background, O'Connell said.Of course, that will also have the effect of retarding assimilation, as well as helping create race-, ethnicity-, and country or state of origin-based centers of political power, but don't expect O'Connell to either be able to figure that out or to oppose it.
"If you want to understand the culture, the traditions, the language, the buying characteristics of those countries, hire people from there --- and they're already here," O'Connell said.
Related:
20% of California high school seniors can't pass junior high test
"English-immersion foes hold children back"
PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians oppose driver's licenses, Arnold's healthcare for illegal aliens
The Public Policy Institute of California has released a statewide survey (link), and some of their findings are questionable due to a lack of specificity in the questions. And, some of the finding have been spun:
While political reform dominates conversation in the state capitol, Californians say immigration (19%) is the most important issue facing the state today, followed by jobs and the economy (13%), and education (12%). Despite their concerns about immigration, a majority of residents (60%) also believe immigrants are a benefit to the state because of their hard work and job skills, while one-third (33%) say they are a burden because of their use of public services.
It bears repeating that to the respondents, immigration is the #1 issue. Unfortunately, this is where their linguistic laxity starts to play a role.
Looking at the PDF (ppic.org/content/pubs/survey/S_307MBS.pdf), we see that the 19% number was apparently a free-form question allowing people to supply their own answer to the question "First, thinking about the state as a whole, what do you think is the most important issue facing people in California today?" In the top spot is "immigration, illegal immigration"; one wonders why they didn't break that out into two figures. The answer is probably because they were using codes for various answers and, as revealed elsewhere, they seem unable to grasp the differences between legal and illegal immigration.
See, for instance, another question which is referenced in the second paragraph above:
Please indicate which statement comes closest to your own view—even if neither is exactly right: [rotate] [1] Immigrants today are a benefit to California because of their hard work and job skills [or] [2] Immigrants today are a burden to California because they use public services.
Obviously, this is a fundamentally stupid question. It combines different types of immigration into one amorphous whole, and it assumes that the question is only one of financial matters rather than other issues such as the associated political corruption and such.
Then:
Should immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally be allowed to apply for work permits which would allow them to stay and work in the United States, or shouldn’t they be allowed to do that?
64% said yes, but I wonder whether this question could have been phrased better, such as by using "illegal aliens" rather than leading with "immigrants" then revealing they're here illegally.
The language in the previous question is a bit different from two others:
Do you favor or oppose providing health care coverage for illegal immigrants in California?
43% favor, 53% oppose.
Would you favor or oppose state legislation allowing illegal immigrants to get a California driver's license?
43% favor, 54% oppose.
Schwarzenegger may sign Nunez, Perata Protection Act (February primary)
The California Assembly has approved a bill that would move the presidential primary to February 2008. As previously discussed, this will also allow a proposition to appear on the ballot that will extend term limits for such worthies as Fabian Nunez and Don Perata. Arnold still needs to see the final bill, but he's indicated his support in the past. If you'd like to suggest that Arnie's in the wrong party, give him a jingle: 916-445-2841
Sen. Bob Dutton pulls out of $500 newborns savings accounts bill
Following an appearance on yesterday's John and Ken Show on KFI, Sen. Bob Dutton has dropped his name from Senate Bill 752. That would have given each newborn in California a $500 savings account:
"Over the last 48 hours, thousands of Californians have asked me what I was thinking so I thought I would take this opportunity to share my thoughts."
Indeed. He also references the federal version of the bill and says:
Just yesterday, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke voiced his support for similar accounts by saying "To the extent that we can help people learn about how to save, how to budget, we are doing a great service."
Darrell Steinberg, Bob Dutton: give every child born in California $500 (anchor babies, bank boondoggle)
California Senators Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) and Bob Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga) have introduced a bill that would given every child born in California from 2008 on a savings account with an initial deposit of $500 (AP link). The two Senators are either very high or very corrupt, perhaps both.
First of all, the program is open to every child, and makes absolutely no distinction as far as residency, citizenship status, or the like. While people from Korea probably aren't going to spend $1000 on a plane ticket to come here just for $500, this will reduce the costs of such birth tourism. And, needless to say, the government of Mexico is probably printing up comic books as I type showing their citizens how to take advantage of Steinberg/Dutton's largesse.
And, it doesn't take much to see where we might also "follow the money": what type of business makes money when the state deposits close to $300 million per year? Hint to the AP: it's not mattress manufacturers.
If any citizen journalists want to make a name for themselves, look into whether Steinberg and Dutton (or NAF; see below) have received donations or have links to the banking industry.
The program does have some restrictions: they probably can't get at the money until they reach 18, at which time they can only spend it on good things (not crack or anything): an education, a house, or funding a retirement account. However, none of those have to be in California.
This bill appears to have been pushed by the CFR-linked New America Foundation; one of their fellows is Gregory Rodriguez of the Los Angeles Times. Whether he's involved is not known, but this NAF page identifies another fellow, Anne Stuhldreher, as "a key player in sponsoring the legislation" and another person quoted is "Ray Boshara, New America Foundation Vice President and Director of the Asset Building Program". They also state:
Legislation that would implement KIDS Accounts throughout the U.S. is currently pending in Congress. Known as the ASPIRE Act, the federal bill is co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of lawmakers that the New America Foundation works closely with.
The latest version of that I could find is H.R.1767 and S.868, both from 2005.
The California bill is SB 752 (link), and these are the only requirements:
There is hereby established in the State Treasury the California Kids Investment and Development Savings (KIDS) Account for every child born in California on or after January 1, 2008.
There's nothing else in there regarding residency or legal status.
The bill also race-baits and tries to trigger guilt reflexes:
Across the country, one-quarter of Caucasian children and one-half of non-Caucasian children grow up in households without any significant savings or resources available for investment.
Shouldn't that be "Caucasian-American"? And, it contains unclear language:
An individual who is 18 years or older may withdraw funds from the account for the following purposes
Which "individual" and which "account" they're refering to isn't clear. That's certainly a minor point and will probably be cleared up, but it helps illustrate their muddled thinking.
The principal coauthors are: Dean Florez and Jenny Oropeza in the Senate and Patty Berg, Dave Jones, Ted Lieu, and Tony Mendoza in the Assembly.
I'll outsource discussing the idiocy in the rest of the bill to others, but I'd suggest using the points highlighted above to drive the idiots involved in this out of office.
UPDATE: Bob Dutton has dropped his name from the bill.
Posted at 12:22 AM | Comments (0)
California presidential primary to help reelect incumbents like Nunez and Peralta
The California legislature is trying to move the presidential primary in the state from June 3 to February 5, 2008. That ballot will have two propositions. The first is from Arnie Schwartzenegger and concerns redistricting; presumably it's similar to his earlier proposal.
The second would extend term limits for our wonderful incumbents and would do so before a March 2008 deadline, thus allowing people such as Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez to continue their reigns.
Details here:
Essentially, California would have no real elections over the next four years, because we would have the same people running in the same districts where there is no competition.
UPDATE: For some unknown reason, I've thrice misspelled his name. It's Don Perata.
Posted at 12:20 PM | Comments (0)
Rudy Giuliani: Schwarzenegger is a "progressive leader"
Yesterday His Weirdness, aka former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, spoke in Silicon Valley and said:...Giuliani praised [Arnold Schwarzenegger], calling him a "progressive leader."As you might have surmised, the "reporter", Jason Bennert of the Bay City News Service, did a fine job transcribing Juliani's remarks. However, not a single question he asked of the candidate is noted, so one can assume none was asked.
"I generally agree with Governor Schwarzenegger," Giuliani said...
...On immigration, Giuliani said while the country needs to ensure that terrorists, drug dealers and other criminals are not entering the country we should not be driving law-abiding immigrants away.
"The worst problem would be . . . if you're the country that nobody wants to come to,'' Giuliani said...
If Bennert had decided to do some real reporting, he could have informed Rudy that there's a multi-year line to get into the U.S. legally, and we're at absolutely no risk whatsoever of running out of applicants. And, he could have also informed Rudy that his plan to legalize millions of illegal aliens would make their situation even worse and also allow those former illegal aliens to cut in front of the citizenship line ahead of those prospective legal immigrants.
Posted at 05:59 AM | Comments (0)
Pandering in vain: "Latinos" angry at Schwarzenegger remarks
During last year's campaign the L.A. Times somehow obtained tapes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the state has recently released a full set. Among other topics, Arnie discusses immigration and states his opposition to the border fence (comparing it to the Berlin wall of course) and his support for a "path to citizenship", known in the real world as a massive amnesty. Now, the LAT is trying to make hay ("Latinos lob a few words at governor", Anna Gorman, link). They discuss his immigration-related remarks, get the opinions of pro-illegal immigration advocates, and don't disclose that one of those quoted has a link to the Mexican government and another quote source allegedly has such a link.Here's some of Arnie's quotes:
"I made an effort [at assimilation]. But the Mexicans don't make that effort."While it's certainly not true that all "Mexicans" aren't trying to assimilate, it's certainly true of a large number and a larger percentage than other groups. And, the very fact that they could be called "Mexicans" rather than "Mexican-Americans" is indicative of that lack of assimilation. And, given the large numbers of immigrants from that country, isn't that something that - if we wanted to be grown-up stewards - we should have a PC-free discussion about?
...At one point, to illustrate immigrants' lack of assimilation, he described a shopping mall in Lynwood called Plaza Mexico.
"Literally I felt I was in Mexico City," he said. "Everyone only spoke Spanish, every shop was in Spanish, every sign was in Spanish. They create a Mexico within California."
And he compared the United States with a home where some guests help out and others don't.
"Look, you want to come in here as a guest ... then behave as if you are a guest," he said. "But what do we see in return? We see protesters carrying the Mexican flag... And stepping on the American flag and speaking in Spanish and talking about, 'We are here, and we're going to stay.'"
Of course, the Los Angeles Times and Hispanic "leaders" aren't interested in that grown-up discussion, prefering instead to throw a fit in an attempt to head off further debate:
"His comments were highly offensive and outrageous," said Assembly Assistant Majority Leader Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles). "It's just mind-blowing that he continues to put his foot in his mouth."Perhaps Spanish-language newspapers with an occasionally anti-American agenda aren't exactly the best source. Perhaps the L.A. Times should look a bit closer at whether they want to promulgate the thoughts of those sources instead of fighting against their positions.
If Spanish-language newspapers and radio are any guide, others were angered as well. The headline on one La Opinion piece this week: "Governor attacks Mexicans."
Even a former campaign aide weighed in. "Those comments are disturbing to many of us," said Arnoldo Torres, who worked for the governor during last year's reelection campaign and is a former political advisor to the League of United Latin American Citizens...It's great to know that Arnie's plain-speaking has been stifled. Of course, as readers of this site know - but as readers of the LAT aren't told - Torres also serves on an advisory council to the Mexican president. He's even listed on a Mexican government web site. If the LAT had any journalistic standards, they would mention that highly material fact.
"We take solace in this one thing — that those comments were made in April and that they will not be made again, in public or in private."
"Integration is in the eye of the beholder," said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. "Somebody might say that because of his accent, the governor hasn't integrated fully."Of course, what the Los Angeles Times forgot to do is verify whether or not CHIRLA has collaborated with the Mexican government as alleged at the link above.
Salas added that the governor should be "more careful about what he says about the very people who are sustaining the economy."
"He needs to be much more appreciative of all the opportunities he himself has had as an immigrant," Salas said, adding that not everyone becomes a movie star or marries a Kennedy.
They also quote DJ Eddie "El Piolin" Sotelo and State Sen. Gloria Romero.
Please write readers.rep *at* latimes.com with your thoughts.
UPDATE: I didn't see this before, but the LAT published a transcript of Arnie's remarks in this PDF file. As pointed out here, his remarks are more thoughtful than the L.A. Times' cherry-picking would suggest. Clearly, their goal was to stifle rather than encourage debate of this issue.
Posted at 10:45 AM | Comments (3)
Schwarzenegger: corporatism for corrupt growers
California's Mexico-linked governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has shown himself to be a true humanitarian:
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Tuesday that Escondido would get one of several temporary "one-stop" assistance centers aimed at helping agricultural workers who may have lost their jobs because of freezing temperatures that have hit the state... Darrel Ng, a spokesman for the governor, said the assistance centers would help farm, nursery and field workers sign up for unemployment benefits, find other work, get food stamps and find health care assistance, if they had lost their jobs...
What a humanitarian! I'm sure this has absolutely nothing to do with him attempting to keep a workforce for corrupt growers around, rather than (for instance) Mexico stepping in and offering to repatriate their citizens who are here illegally. Politically-connected growers - such as those who accompanied Arnie on his Big Trip to Mexico - no doubt had nothing to do with this gesture, and this is not an example of corporatism with a smiley face.
Of course, if our media worked, they might look into the connections that Arnie and the Bush administration have to growers, they might reveal which growers went with him on his trip, and they might ask the Mexican government what they intend to do to help their citizens (see, for instance, "California freeze leaves migrant farm laborers out of work and money", link).
Posted at 05:03 AM | Comments (0)
Schwarzenegger: aid for illegal alien farmworkers
Mexico-linked "centrist" Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared that farmworkers affected by the recent freeze in the Central Valley - including those here illegally - will be receiving state aid:
"Everyone will get help [a massive aid package but not including unemployment]... We are not here collecting immigration statuses."
What a humanitarian! Say, did you know that Arnie's Big Trip to Mexico included California growers whining about the lack of plentiful cheap labor? Did you know that neither the SacBee nor any other "news" source I could find disclosed who those growers were or their affiliations? That way, we don't know whether one of them was the politically-connected Luawanna Hallstrom or one of the many other politically-connected growers. And, because of this malfeasance on the part of the AP and others most people aren't going to figure out that Arnie's probable goal with his latest giveaway to Mexican citizens has much more to do with helping corrupt growers profit from illegal immigration than from humanitarianism.
Then, we get this charming news:
In winter months, the citrus industry provides thousands of jobs in Fresno County, which employs more farmworkers than any other California county, according to federal statistics. But even during a normal year, about 40 percent of farmworkers in the county risk going hungry during the winter, according to the California Institute for Rural Studies.
Of course, it's a bit difficult to take the word of what is no doubt a far-left, pro-illegal immigration organization. However, I have little doubt that they aren't far off.
And, that situation is what Arnie and his grower friends really support.
Posted at 09:10 PM | Comments (2)
"Arnold's gross dishonesty" (a "fee" or a "tax"?)
As discussed here, Arnold Schwarzenegger ran on a "no new taxes" platform and accused Phil Angelides of never meeting a tax he didn't want to implement. Now, the new "centrist" Arnie wants to finance his healthcare-for-all (including illegal aliens) scheme using a set of what he calls "fees". They are, in actual fact, "taxes". While it's not discussed at that link, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (site) has said that they might sue to get Arnie to use the correct language.
Posted at 10:51 AM | Comments (1)
Arnie now taking role too seriously
From the prepared version of Arnold Schwarzenegger's state of the state address:
"I believe that together not only can we lead California into the future...we can show the nation and the world how to get there. We can do this because we have the economic strength, the population, the technological force of a nation-state. We are the modern equivalent of the ancient city states of Athens and Sparta. California has the ideas of Athens and the power of Sparta... One year ago I unveiled the 200 billion dollar plan that prepared California for the next ten years. We are a big state and we have big needs. And we made a big down payment. But the job is not finished..."
Memo to Arnie: this is not San Marcos. Sit down, let the painkillers wear off.
Immigration matters underlie much of what he discussed, yet there is not a single mention of the word "immig*". And, our "big needs" total around $43 billion.
Posted at 10:23 PM | Comments (1)
Who benefits from Arnold Schwarzenegger's "health care for illegal aliens" plan?
Arnold Schwarzenegger - California's Bush-resembling, Mexico-pandering, Rove/Kennedy/Mexico-linked governor - wants to give health care to all children in California, including illegal aliens.
It sounds humanitarian, but it isn't. It will make our situation far worse by encouraging even more illegal immigration. It will transfer even more money from U.S. citizens to Mexican citizens and give a huge benefit to the Mexican government, which won't have to take care of their own citizens as a grown-up country should. And, it will also be a huge benefit to those who employ the parents of those illegal aliens. Those corrupt companies will be able to pay even less, safe in the knowledge that benefits will be provided by the state ("corporatism").
The better solution would be for Arnie to restrict his program to U.S. citizens and legal residents and at the same time working to reduce - rather than increase - illegal immigration. Since he's getting advice from someone linked to the Mexican government as well as from at least two people linked to the Bush administration, that might be a bit difficult. But, perhaps Arnie should read his contract again and try to understand who he's supposed to represent.
Expect anyone who opposes this scheme to be portrayed as a meanie, but hopefully they can rise above the smears and articulate the negatives of Arnie's scheme.
The article provides the almost unbelievable news that an earlier plan from Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) excluded illegal aliens. However, as one might expect, a plan from Fabian Nunez included them.
UPDATE: FAIR says:
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposal to provide health coverage to every child in California, including illegal aliens, could leave the state liable for untold billions in unforeseen costs in the future, warns the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). The conservatively estimated cost of $400 million a year could easily balloon to many times that figure. Costs will grow as the numbers of illegal aliens in California increase and may rise even more dramatically as legal residents of other states take advantage of a federal law that requires that state benefits made available to illegal aliens must be made available to all legal U.S. residents...
Posted at 11:47 AM | Comments (1)
Arnold Schwarzenegger: plum jobs, patronage for cronies
This AP article is a bit biased and might be missing key information, but in this case I'll give them a pass.Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed or assigned dozens of staff members this year to high-paying jobs elsewhere in state government -- some of them to six-figure posts he once said were a waste of taxpayer money and should be eliminated.In other Arnie news, Arnold Schwarzenegger's Latino outreach director serves on an advisory panel for the Mexican president.
An Associated Press investigation of Schwarzenegger's staff turnover after last year's disastrous special election revealed that he moved 40 people to other state positions, and at least half of them saw their salaries increase, some by more than $30,000 a year.
Schwarzenegger also gave six former staffers jobs with state boards and commissions he previously tried to dismantle...
Posted at 11:55 AM | Comments (2)
Arnoldo Torres, Arnold Schwarzenegger's Latino outreach director
The largely wrong and illogical article "Schwarzenegger gains among Latinos" by Aurelio Rojas will be featured here later, but for now consider this interesting snippet:Arnoldo Torres, the Schwarzenegger campaign's Latino outreach director who briefed him before the July 24 meeting [with La Opinion], praised the governor for acknowledging he was wrong about the Minutemen and Proposition 187.Obviously, Arnie is little more than political tofu or a programmable talking doll. And, just as obviously, supporting the Minuteman Project or Proposition 187 is not "racist". In fact, a majority of Hispanics supported the latter two months before the election. Supporting those is indeed "racist" if you redefine the term to mean "opposition to illegal immigration and/or the far-left."
"The governor had the (guts) to say, 'You know what? I said things that I shouldn't say (and) I don't support racism,' " said Torres, a former political analyst for Univision and past executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens.
LULAC was at one time apparently a patriotic organization that supported assimilation. In recent years they've morphed into a far-left group, and they have a recent history of supporting illegal immigration.
In addition to what Rojas discloses, Torres spoke at a session called "Mexico and Aztlan: La Fundacion Solidaridad Mexicano Americana" together with noteworthies such as Richard Griswold del Castillo from San Diego State. And, he supposedly got a bill passed allowing Mexican doctors to practice at clinics in California without being licensed here.
And, from 2003 to 2005 he was also a member of the Institute for Mexicans Abroad ("Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior", "IME"), an advisory panel for the Mexican president. In fact, he's got his own entry at their site (cache of ime.gob.mx/ccime/comisiones/asuntos_politicos.htm) (partial machine translation):
From Sacramento, California. Consultant in political subjects. He is Executive Director of [California Hispanic Health Care Association] (CHHCA); of United Latin American Citizens has been executive National Director of the League (LULAC). He is partner of "Torres & Torres", Policy Consultants, in Sacramento; member of the Coalition of Fairness for Minority Groups. That represents non-profit organizations who provide services of health and indigenous community education in California.UPDATE: Torres is apparently no longer on the CCIME, and whether he has current links is unknown. Here's the list of current IME advisors, which doesn't include him: www.ime.gob.mx/ccime/directorios/dir_ccime_06_09.htm . In February 2007 he was described as a "former advisor" and was chiding Arnie over comments he made on the previously-secret audio tapes.
Posted at 11:23 AM | Comments (0)
Arnold Schwarzenegger goes to Mexico after Mexican-American vote, cheap labor
The day after the (U.S.) midterm election, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger flew to Mexico to discuss topics such as immigration. The article by Kate Folmar of the MediaNews Sacramento Bureau is a strange beast, at times mocking the governator, using inappropriate language (Arnold's "post-election high"; his trip to China was a "tonic for his special election hangover", etc.), spouting talking points, and offering innuendo. The impression I'm left with is that we're living inside a corporatist nightmare and that Arnold is just a tool of business interests. He works for them and not for the bulk of California citizens. Whether intentional or not, it's probably well-deserved. A related AP report by Laura Kurtzman ("Schwarzenegger says Washington 'stuck'") has some additional details on the jaunt.Arnie will meet with both Vicente Fox and Felipe Calderon. First lady/real governor Maria Shriver will - "[a]s is her wont" - be delivering humanitarian aid to Chiapas. (No meeting with Subcomandante Marcos is apparently planned; outreach only goes so far). The AP report has Arnold sounding very Bush-like:
"I think this is good that we have new blood coming to Washington, that we have new people with new ideas coming to Washington... because Washington was stuck."He lauds bipartisanship, and also speaks out against the border fence (the AP lies and calls it a "wall") [UPDATE: See below]. And, he supported again Bush's "guest" worker scheme. He also presents himself as a model of how Republicans could govern by reaching across the aisle. Of course, in his case he's reaching across the aisle to people like Antonio Villaraigosa and Fabian Nunez, two people who have questionable allegiance to this country. As an example of how bad this meme is, Insty promoted it here, and Pajamas Media promoted it at the page that links to. Returning to the MediaNews report:
The governor is traveling with more than 60 business delegates, representing agriculture, entertainment, banking and tourism concerns -- several of which have made generous donations to the governor and his political causes.Needless to say, the ag interests are strongly interested in cheap labor, and the banking interests are probably interested in helping illegal aliens send money home. In fact, the AP article says, he was "traveling with California farmers who were unable to harvest their crops because of a lack of workers". (Whether one of those is Luawanna Hallstrom is not known.)
Meanwhile, here in what is still apparently our country, frequent quote source Jack Pitney of Claremont McKenna says:
"I think Schwarzenegger is thinking long-term... The Republican Party can't survive forever without a substantial share of the Latino vote."While most Latinos in California are Mexican-American, one wonders whether going to Mexico is the best way to reach out to Puerto Ricans or Argentinians. And one wonders whether it's good to reach out to a specific ethnic group by going to the country from which they or their ancestors came. Doesn't that discourage assimilation? Doesn't that encourage them to maintain ties to the "old country" rather than becoming 100% Americans? Why, Arnold even recognized the proximity of Mexico as an impediment to assimilation, and that's stated in the article. Maybe one side of Arnold knows something that the other side doesn't.
We're also informed that, according to the William C. Velasquez Institute, Arnie got 41.5% of the Latino vote, and this was apparently a high for a Republican.
Then, we get some interesting innuendo I wasn't aware of:
Schwarzenegger trade missions tend to be elaborate spectacles that rack up serious expenses. Unseen donors underwrite travel for the governor and his staff through the tax-exempt California Protocol Foundation, run under the auspices of the California Chamber of Commerce. Delegates pay their own way. And the state covers some minor costs.UPDATE: Arnold himself called it a wall, and he's not opposed to it, he just thinks it's incomplete:
The protocol foundation arrangement aggravates campaign finance watchdogs who see it as a covert way for donors to court favor.
Chamber of Commerce head Allan Zaremberg says the governor is not influenced. And he doesn't know who is giving. Donors "have an expectation of confidentiality when they contribute," he said.
The protocol foundation's 2005 tax returns show that it spent more than $1.2 million to "lessen the burden of government" in promoting "California as a place to do business." That number probably reflects costs of last year's mission to China, plus some expenses from a similar mission to Japan in late 2004.
"Approving a law to build a wall between the United States and Mexico is an incomplete way to solve the problem... That´s why a guest-worker program must be functioning at the same time."
Posted at 05:59 AM | Comments (1)
Loretta Sanchez, American icon
There was an anti-Loretta Sanchez/pro-Tan Nguyen rally in Orange County yesterday, and the pictures are here. I don't necessarily agree with the racism charge, but she certainly is an ethnic demagogue.
What you'll notice in one of those pictures is the very large portrait of Sanchez-Brixey on the wall of her campaign office. For your convenience, I've brightened the image above. And, for fun, I added another poster to their wall to the extent that my Gimp abilities allow.
But, seriously, what is that doing on the wall of her office? Is there any other (U.S.) candidate who likewise feels the need to raise themselves to the Kim Jong Il/Saddam/Stalin level?
Posted at 10:32 PM | Comments (6)
Tan Nguyen: Sanchez did first translation; given heads-up on raid
This is completely and utterly unsourced, but at a rally for Tan Nguyen yesterday this was reportedly "announced at the rally by Tan and some other speakers"* Loretta Sanchez' office produced the initial, incorrect translation. When asked about it, she smiled and said "oops."And, Nguyen is reportedly "calling for an investigation".
* Loretta Sanchez' office was give a heads up of the raid on Tan's office so it could be photographed.*
Although nothing incriminating has been found, state police refuse to return the computers, which have important campaign information on them.
Isn't it odd how candidates who oppose illegal immigration tend to have major problems like this?
UPDATE: From this:
...Then the candidate – dubbed "The Tan Man" by one supporter – hopped onto a pickup and declared that the letter at the center of state and federal investigations wasn't meant to intimidate Hispanic voters and wasn't illegal.
He also accused his opponent, U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Garden Grove, of possibly having a hand in the Oct. 20 raid on his home and campaign office during a criminal voting rights investigation.
"Ms. Sanchez's fingerprints are all over this," Nguyen declared. "… Ms. Sanchez then stood by smiling while the campaign office of her opponent – who was winning the election – was raided."
Sanchez's campaign was unable to field a response by press time. The Democrat is widely believed to be well ahead of her opponent...
Posted at 06:11 AM | Comments (1)
Tan Nguyen: the Manchurian candidate?
BoiFromTroy raises the possibility (at the site run by Chris Nolan) that Tan Nguyen is a Democratic plant designed to increase their GOTV effort:
I say that Nguyen's letter was either the stupidest or the most nefarious political act this year because part of me wonders whether he's some sort of "Manchurian Candidate" planted by Democrats to pull this October stunt - and have it dragged out by the media going into the election. (Of couse, that's Cold War thinking - Vietnam, where Nguyen was born isn't the same as China for all kinds of reasons.)
OK, now that he's gone first, I'll admit that while I had thought of similar things before, I hadn't given them much weight because there's still the possibility that he might be charged or sued. And, it's going to be difficult for him to run again as either an R or a D.
However, what I have considered is that the shadowy office manager or the shadowy LAPD officer involved in the letter might have been plants. And, since illegal immigration is a multi-billion dollar industry, it's not just the Democratic Party that would profit from a possible attempt to smear the CCIR or those opposed to illegal immigration in general. All the facts aren't available yet, and there's no guarantee at all that CA AG Bill Lockyer - a Democrat - will perform a full investigation and look at all possibilities.
Bonus: La Opinion (Spanish-language rag in Los Angeles) misquoted part of the letter, trying to make it look worse than it was. Wrap these lines to read the details:
blogs.ocweekly.com/blotter/
why-is-la-opinion-changing-the-tan-nguyen-letter
The publisher of La Opinion, Monica Lozano, has links to MALDEF and the National Council of La Raza ("The Race").
Related:
"Clarification" letter sent to Hispanics (Tan Nguyen, MALDEF, NCLR, NALEO)
Democrats offer Tan Nguyen letter of their own [satire]
Arnold Schwarzenegger gives power to far-left (immigration letter)
Hispanic voter suppression letter: from a Republican???
Hispanic voter suppression letter: evidence, Arnold, hacks (pre-Tan)
How the "California Hispanics vote suppression" story will end (right so far)
Help Tan Nguyen Beat Loretta Sanchez! (pre-letter)
Posted at 02:38 PM | Comments (8)
Arnold Schwarzenegger gives power to far-left (immigration letter)
Shortly after the now-infamous Tan Nguyen letter warning "immigrants" against voting surfaced, our Rove-influenced governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, completely capitulated to demands that had not yet been made:
[Arnie] called the letters "racist" and "despicable," and argued the perpetrators should be tried for a hate crime.
Now, he's had his words regurgitated by those who don't have the U.S.'s best interests at heart:
State Democratic Chairman Art Torres said party leaders were planning a rally for Orange County on Tuesday. "It's a hate crime as far as we are concerned," Torres said.
(If the letter is a "hate crime", I wonder what we should call Torres' decade-old quote that "[Proposition 187] is the last gasp of white America in California.")
This incident shows the folly of the GOP trying to be like or giving in to or trying to play the same game as those on the far-left. If Arnold had issued a more moderate statement that included all possibilities and had not included the "hate crime" bit, racists like Torres might still say the same things, but Arnold would not have preemptively given their statements legitimacy and might have even been able to appear as the voice of reason.
Now, he appears to be the same as the racial demagogues on the far-left. And, this will make legitimate attempts to point out that non-citizens can't vote even more difficult and tarnish attempts to investigate possible cases of non-citizens voting. And, it will make the GOP even more beholden to far-left, self-appointed Hispanic "leaders".
For more on the far-left feeding frenzy, see "Many parties pitch tents in Nguyen opposition camp" or "Governor may try to mend fences after G-O-P letter scandal".
The Torres quote is from yet another biased AP article by Peter Prengaman, and its biases might be featured here later. So too with "Nguyen's campaign office raided" by Norberto Santana Jr. and the LAT's "Raids Widen 'Immigrant' Letter Probe" by Jennifer Delson, Christopher Goffard and Mai Tran. The latter contains this intriguing bit:
According to a source close to the investigation, the attorney general's office has determined that an LAPD officer, who is a friend of a worker in Nguyen's office, paid $4,000 on a credit card for the bulk mailing of the letter and used an alias.
Related: Arnold Schwarzenegger distance self from Bush. Or does he?
Posted at 11:49 AM | Comments (6)
Political TV ads in California
Here's a recent round-up of California political ads from the television:
1. Ad from Republican Steve Poizner (or friends) in opposition to Democrat Cruz Bustamante for Insurance Commissioner. Shows the back of a balding person (presumably Cruz) holding out a large bag while people walk by dumping cash in the sack while winking. Not-so-subtle subtext: Cruz is dirty. Compare with this March 30 2006 article:
Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, the leading Democratic candidate for state insurance commissioner, has taken large contributions and accepted free meals and travel from the industry he seeks to regulate... In the past year, Bustamante has received more than $120,000 in campaign donations from insurance companies, their trade groups and individual brokers, records show... He and top aides also have accepted from those in the insurance industry hundreds of dollars in free meals and travel expenses at restaurants and resorts in Pebble Beach, Las Vegas and San Diego -- some of which Bustamante did not report on his disclosure statements, according to records.
Meanwhile, the former MEChA member seems to be preparing for a life after politics as a still-guru weight loss guru: startwithcruz.com. That's listed as the official site for his campaign: aroundthecapitol.com/IC/Elections
2. Former California governor Jerry Brown - nicknamed "Moonbeam" for his occasionally outrageous proposals and antics - has an ad calling his opponent for Attorney General, Chuck Poochigian, "too extreme for California". The ad is fact-checked here. While this site isn't exactly an opponent of JB, many people would call him the "extremist", not the other way around. And, those featured in the ad making them claim are:
- Jason Fox, a "Sargeant of Police" from "San Francisco" (he's with the SFPD, see below)
- Randy Hayes, founder of the Rainforest Action Network
- Kathy Kneer, president of Planned Parenthood of California
- Lisa Seitz, "Scientific Researcher"
The announcer makes the claim as well, while a black & white of Poochigian being embraced by George Bush plays for several seconds.
In California terms, PP and RAN might be considered the "extremists", but things are different here. As the fact-check above says, "Seitz is a former Brown appointee to the Oakland Public Ethics Commission... Hayes once held a top appointed post in Brown's mayoral office." Her husband, meanwhile, is the guitarist for a hitherto unheard-of rock 'n' roll band called the NakedBarbies, featuring the attractive Patty Spiglanin.
Note also that Fox' employer (SFPD) is not provided, since apparently that's against state law. That law, and another ad about the weapons Fox discusses, is discussed here.
3. Now we come to one of the strangest - in the pathetic sense - ads that I've ever seen. It has to be seen to be believed, featuring the back of a "young Phil" looking at a poster saying "Dump Nixon". The narrator intones: "In 1972, a young man from California saw a sign that changed his life forever..." Supposed facts are presented, but the music is what makes this special: "Let Your Love Flow (Like a Mountain Stream)" which, if it had been the original Bellamy Brothers version would be bad enough. However, in this case it appears to have been performed by the World's Worst Bread Cover Band. The ad hits squarely onto a major demographic in California: those who are still stuck in the 70s. Phil is one of you.
Posted at 05:14 PM | Comments (2)
AVWatch: Villaraigosa, Arnold Schwarzenegger cut backroom deal?
Have Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger cut a backroom deal? According to comments heard on a segment from KFI's John Ziegler (filling in for John & Ken), under this scheme in exchange for Arnold supporting Tony's effort to gain control over the Los Angeles Unified School District, Alcalde Villaraigosa will offer only limited support for Phil Angelides.Arnold will term out in 2010, and then it's time for Tony to try to become the first former MEChA leader to become governor.
Arnold signed the bill giving Villaraigosa a large degree of control over the LAUSD earlier this week. And, consider this earlier report:
After months of hesitation, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Tuesday [September 5] endorsed fellow Democrat Phil Angelides for governor, saying the state treasurer would best promote school improvements in California.From last month, see the article subtitled "Developers make big plans for Westside, write big checks for Antonio". His "Committee for Government Excellence and Accountability" raised over $1 million for his LAUSD efforts:
...Villaraigosa's public embrace of Angelides on education comes late in the campaign, after he won approval in the state Legislature for a bill giving him unprecedented control of the nation's second-largest school district, a plan Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has said he supports.
The mayor was widely believed to be withholding his endorsement of Angelides as he sought greater control of the troubled Los Angeles Unified School District. That plan won narrow legislative approval last week and Schwarzenegger, a Republican, has said he will sign the bill.
Neither Villaraigosa nor Angelides specifically mentioned the LAUSD bill Tuesday as they appeared together before more than 100 supporters at a BART station. Villaraigosa also avoided direct attacks on Schwarzenegger, confining his remarks to education.
Although Villaraigosa is one of the Democratic Party's rising stars, more than half of his committee's funds came from many of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's biggest contributors. Univision executive Jerry Perenchio, who gave Villaraigosa’s school committee $500,000, has spent nearly $6.4 million in the last 18 months on Schwarzenegger, the California Republican Party and the governor's various ballot initiatives.For background on the LAUSD from one perspective, see this.
I don't know if this backroom deal was actually made, but considering Arnold's other moves I consider it somewhat plausible. Hopefully someone who's more familiar with local politics will weigh in, but based on everything else that's happened I think a protest vote for either Phil Angelides or Art Olivier is the best option.
Posted at 11:31 PM | Comments (2)
Arnold Schwarzenegger/Phil Angelides file download issue
Today's "hot" issue is not Arnold Schwarzenegger's blather about immigration. Rather, it's the audio file that Phil Angelides staffers downloaded from the California government web site in which he called Bonnie Garcia "hot".
It's good to see the Angelides campaign being shown to be as sleazy as their candidate himself. However, it would be nice to discuss much more important matters.
Nevertheless, the staffers apparently claim that they did not "hack" his site and they didn't try to guess passwords in order to gain access to the file. They claim they backed up on the file name, which is given here as speeches.gov.ca.gov/dir/08-29-2006_avail.htm.
Apparently they transformed that into speeches.gov.ca.gov/dir and were thus able to access other files and directories. Nothing that experienced internet users have not done in the past and, as a matter of fact, the W3C suggest naming URLs so that they can be guessed.
It appears that that whole server has been 404ed, but you can see some of the pages that google cached here. The fact that they were able to cache them indicates that at least those pages were not password protected. Some of the subdirectories of the 'dir' directory might have been password protected, and, while I haven't verified it, if there were symlinks outside those directories leading to files inside those directories I think Apache would have prevented access. Unless they were given a name and password, guessing a name/password would probably be considered "hacking".
From the previous search, here's cache of a sample press release, showing the links to some audio files. Here's a sample of someone linking to one of those press releases.
Here's Yahoo's entries.
Archive.org shows nothing.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ................
Posted at 08:49 PM | Comments (1)
Who wrote Arnold Schwarzenegger's immigration opinion piece?
California's Bush- and Kennedy-controlled governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, offers "Keep the Immigration Debate Civil". My summary: "A protest vote for Phil Angelides might wake me, Maria, and my Bush handlers up to the realization that I'm on the wrong path."1. The title will be read by most as a challenge to those opposed to illegal immigration. It applies more strongly to those on the other side, but he doesn't make that clear. He's probably too afraid to do that. By doing that, he plays right into enemy hands.
2. He chides Congress for not "finishing comprehensive immigration reform this year". That's a code phrase for a massive amnesty scheme.
3. The part that might draw race-baiting is where he appears to encourage immigrants to assimilate. In fact, he's not doing that. He's only suggesting that "immigrant rights activists" make their message more saleable to the mainstream: "So my message to you is: Carry your home country in your heart, but carry the American flag in our streets." Should an elected politician really be encouraging foreign citizens to march in our streets? Of all people, Arnold should be able to draw parallels.
4. Then, comes the Bush "redefine amnesty" dance, combined with the "mass deportations" strawman:
Now that they are here, what do we do? Amnesty is not the answer. Congress granted amnesty in 1986 and promised it would end the problem. It didn't. Amnesty only made it worse. You don't reward people for breaking the law. And you don't grant someone the rights of citizenship simply by virtue of how long they have been in this country illegally - that makes a mockery of the law and penalizes those who waited years and followed the rules.Of course, like so many others, Arnold fails to note that if we started enforcing our laws we'd reduce the numbers here now and the numbers of those coming. And, if he's worried about mixed-status families now, just wait until we "reform" the system and the problem gets even worse. As for the $250 million figure, that's from an extremely poorly done study from the Clinton-affiliated Center for America Progress.
But it is not realistic either to round up 12 million people and send them home. Many have families here now, children and grandchildren who are citizens. Splitting them up would be inhumane. Some say it would cost as much as $250 billion to even try. Who would pay for that? It is simply not realistic.
5. Then comes Arnold's/Teddy Kennedy's/Bush's solution:
The answer, as I have repeatedly said, is, first, to secure the border to stop the problem from getting worse. Second, we must create a temporary-worker program so people can come here legally to work. We should also lift the cap on work visas for industries such as technology, engineering and agriculture so immigrants can be hired when there are not enough U.S. workers. And we must create a path to legal status for those living in the shadows illegally. They must pay a fine for breaking our laws. They must learn English and become part of our culture. They must pay back taxes and pay for healthcare and education rather than expect American taxpayers to pay extra when some cannot even afford healthcare or college for their own children.The problems with "guest" worker programs have been enumerated here in great depth. The completely anti-American and un-American features of the original Bush "guest" worker program have not received wide attention; one can easily imagine the Arnold/Bush/Kennedy/Fox "guest" worker program having similar features for "when there are not enough U.S. workers". And, of course, Arnold fails to note that those payments he discusses redound not just to the benefit of illegal aliens, but also serve as a subsidy to their corrupt employers. Those employers would continue to receive a huge subsidy due to the welfare state, politicians such as Gil Cedillo, far-left groups such as the ACLU, and even worse groups.
6. Note also that these remarks are similar to what he said in July 25 2006 to the SDUT ("Last best hope"):
Schwarzenegger wants three things accomplished, in the following order: (1) secure the border; (2) allow U.S. companies to bring in guest workers because "it's a global economy"; and (3) then – and only then – confront what the governor admits is the toughest issue of them all, what to do with 12 million illegal immigrants who are already here. Schwarzenegger stresses that our response has to be "humane" and that it's "ridiculous" to suggest we can deport 12 million people... Schwarzenegger leaves open the possibility of allowing most of these people to remain in the country legally, provided they make some sort of restitution for the infraction of entering the country without permission. "I think the American people like to see redemption, they like to see that you have done things (to atone) for the mistake you made. Because we all make mistakes,"
Posted at 11:10 AM | Comments (1)
Video: Gil Cedillo compares immigration reform to ending slavery and more
Those of you with strong constitutions can watch this six minute video (AVI file) of California state senator Gil Cedillo discussing Gloria Romero's resolution in support of foreign citizens making a show of force and marching in our streets.
The video was shot on an unknown date, presumably in late April. The resolution was in support of the "Great American Boycott" of May 1.
Cedillo doesn't say anything extremely damning (as in, there are no shouts of "Aztlan Now!" or anything), but in his own sleep-inducing way he extols illegal aliens "keeping us competitive" and, while he doesn't say it, doing the jobs Americans supposedly won't do.
Then, he compares giving amnesty to illegal aliens to:
* Ending U.S. slavery
* Giving women the right to vote
* Ending Japanese internment
And, he complains about illegal aliens being allowed to work because the laws aren't enforced, but, obviously, he, his cohorts, and the illegal immigration-supporting infrastructure of which he's a part are a major part of the problem. On the rare occasions when the laws were actually enforced he and his compadres are among the first to complain.
He also brings up the illegal immigration marchers and their "American flags". Of course, most of the flags were originally Mexican until they realized that was bad PR. Likewise with Cedillo, who some years ago said we should give driver's licenses to illegal aliens because "they were here first". Nowadays he says it's for "public safety". Some have even been more transparent. Sorry, no one's buying it.
Posted at 03:17 PM | Comments (2)
Wacky California legislature makes self-mocking resolution about Pluto
Let's check in with the wacky fun California legislature and see what capers, fancies, and jolly japes they're up to. Why, look, it's HR 36, "Relative to Pluto's planetary status":
WHEREAS, Recent astronomical discoveries, including Pluto's oblong orbit and the sighting of a slightly larger Kuiper Belt object, have led astronomers to question the planetary status of Pluto; and WHEREAS, The mean-spirited International Astronomical Union decided on August 24, 2006, to disrespect Pluto by stripping Pluto of its planetary status and reclassifying it as a lowly dwarf planet;and [...much fun deleted...] Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly hereby condemns the International Astronomical Union's decision to strip Pluto of its planetary status for its tremendous impact on the people of California and the state's long term fiscal health...
Why am I not laughing?
Well, perhaps it has something to do with real legislation their cohorts have been involved in:
* Gil Cedillo's seventh attempt to give legal California driver's licenses to illegal aliens.
* Gil Cedillo's attempt to give illegal aliens a better deal on student aid than some U.S. citizens.
* Gloria Romero's support for foreign citizens making a show of force and demanding that we give them rights to which they aren't entitled.
Perhaps if the Democratic Party decided to be an American party and started censuring their many extremist leaders I might be less "saturnine" about their "Pluto" joke.
Posted at 03:42 AM | Comments (1)
Sleazy Phil Angelides pimps daughter's ethnicity at Latino event
Phil Angelides has three daughters, all of them "hot". However, while you wouldn't know it by looking at them, one of them (Megan) is more special than the others. Not only is she really a step-daughter, she's a prop.
Speaking before the "National Latino Congreso" on Thursday ("Angelides campaigns at key Latino gathering" by Edwin Garcia/Media News), Angelides reached so low in the barrel he was under the stand on which the barrel was located:
And Angelides did something he rarely, if ever, has done in public: He introduced his daughter, Megan, by the last name of her biological father, Garcia.
Exactly how American is such a bald attempt at ethnic pandering? Isn't that more akin to what's done in the Balkans or certain African nations?
If a certain ethnicity requires that one be of their blood, should we encourage that? Should we be alarmed at the segment of the Hispanic community - including most of their self-appointed leaders - who put their race ahead of more important things such as their country?
Did the Democratic Party ever really support looking at the content of someone's character over the color of their skin? Will other Democrats frantically search through their family trees - conducting DNA tests as necessary - in order to show that they would faithfully and racially represent their voters' interests?
Posted at 06:37 AM | Comments (1)
Will Arnold take student aid from U.S. citizens?
It's time to call Arnold Schwarzenegger yet again: 916-445-2841. This time it's about Gil Cedillo's attempt to take student aid from U.S. citizens and give it to citizens of Mexico who are here illegally. From Jessie Mangaliman's article "Student aid bill at final hurdle":A controversial bill that would allow illegal immigrants to get state financial aid while attending California's public colleges and universities is now in the hands of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has until the end of this month to sign or veto.Those "non-California residents" are U.S. citizens. In other words, as with the current law, we'd be giving illegal aliens - largely citizens of Mexico - a better deal than U.S. citizens. And, since there is only so many resources, this would in effect be a taking from U.S. citizens. And, along the way, that would devalue U.S. citizenship.
The bill's author, state Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, called on the governor Wednesday to "invest in California's future" by signing SB 160, also called the California DREAM Act, into law. Opponents say the state should not give money to lawbreakers.
While Schwarzenegger has not taken a position on the bill, he has previously shown some inclination to extend state support to the children of illegal immigrants.
The governor has supported an existing state law, passed in 2002, which now allows undocumented students in California to pay in-state tuition rates in public colleges and universities. Tuition for non-California residents is about 10 times higher...
Call Arnold at 916-445-2841 and urge him not to give in to anti-American forces.
Posted at 12:37 PM | Comments (5)
Arnold Schwarzenegger distance self from Bush. Or does he?
The ABC News "exclusive" "Schwarzenegger Explains Why He Went Green" has Arnold chanelling Laurie David via Maria and contains this:Schwarzenegger faces a re-election battle this fall, but said if Bush advisor Karl Rove were to call offering the president's help, he would decline the help because of the president's lack of popularity in California.What's that smell? Let's turn to the 1/19/06 article "Schwarzenegger brings Bush strategist to 2006 campaign" for a clue:
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, steeling for a tough 2006 campaign, has tapped another top White House veteran to join his re-election drive -- hiring Matthew Dowd, a lead architect of the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign to be his chief campaign strategist, sources said Wednesday.Why, even the SDUT managed to (slightly) put two and two together:
The addition of Dowd, a confidant of top White House aide Karl Rove, Bush's former chief pollster and a former senior adviser to the Republican National Committee, is expected to be announced shortly. The GOP strategist heads ViaNovo, a management and communications firm in Austin, Texas.
So far as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his re-election campaign team are concerned, President Bush's middle initial might as well stand for "Who?"Yes, here in California we really respect someone who pretends not to be a Bush/Rove puppet but who in in effect is kept on a very short leash not only by his wife but by those with deep ties to the White House. Maybe a protest vote for Angelides would be the best way to show how much we respect Arnold and his team. Note also this bit from ABC:
...Matthew Dowd, chief strategist for the Schwarzenegger re-election campaign, said he's mindful of the potential anti-Republican tide, but not overly worried about it.
Although Dowd was a top adviser to Bush's 2004 re-election campaign and still counts himself a Bush loyalist, he is more than willing to help Schwarzenegger distance himself from the president.
"When the opportunity presents itself to show he's an independent leader, we're fine with that," Dowd said. "In California, they respect that."
In the past year, Schwarzenegger's approval rating jumped from 36 to 49 percent. After taking a beating for governing as an anti-union, right-leaning Republican, he's gained approval by cutting deals with the Democratic legislature on the minimum wage, prescription drugs and now global warming.Obvious to most, there are other explanations for the rise, including Arnold's unbelievably pathetic campaign (or lack thereof) for his bills, as well as the smears emanating from the unions having somewhat abated. And, if he had shown the Dems in the legislature for what they are instead of surrendering, his approval might be even higher and, needless to say, he would have done what's in the best interests of the state and the nation. Instead, he wimped out.
Posted at 07:57 PM | Comments (2)
Phil Angelides to be barbecued by voters
A Public Policy Institute of California poll finds that Arnold Schwarzenegger leads the only-slightly-worse challenger Phil Angelides by 45 to 32 percent. Informed of the results, Angelides said the following:
"Arnold Schwarzenegger is known by 100 percent of the world... Despite all his attacks, despite $20 million spent against me, distorting the truth, trying to smear me, Arnold Schwarzenegger is stuck at 45 percent... [...asked why even Democrats are switching to Arnold, he said:] You know, it's summertime, people are barbecuing, they're spending time with their families, and the fact is, Democrats are coming home, they're going to come home."
Posted at 11:06 PM | Comments (1)
Arnold: California not the Zinfandel State
Sen. Carole Migden (D-Frisco) wanted to name Zinfandel as California's "historic wine". She originally wanted to name it "California's official wine", but we know that's actually those high-pitched sounds coming from the Legislature itself and anyway the wine industries bitched about it.
In his gutsiest decision yet (apparently Maria took the leash off by accident or something), Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed her attempt. He didn't want to be unfair to all the other fine wines - many of them not so wimpy-sounding - that the state produces.
Posted at 10:50 PM | Comments (0)
Sheila Kuehl: free healthcare for anyone who can make it across the California border
Now comes California state Senator Sheila Kuehl with SB 840, the "California Health Insurance Reliability Act". It would mandate "universal health care" and would cover "dental care, prescriptions, mental health care and hospitalization".
And, it would be open to "undocumented" residents.
No longer would California need to worry about citizens of Mexico crossing illegally and then heading to other states. No, Kuehl's plan would make sure that they would stay right here. In fact, many thousands, tens of thousands, or more! would come just to take advantage of her largess.
Of course, some worry-worts might say that all those illegal aliens would not only drive up the cost of the scheme but would take healthcare from U.S. citizens. And, some people might suggest that the "progressives" in the California legislature are better suited to being Mexican politicians than U.S. politicians. And, others might say that their constant support for illegal immigration and spreading U.S. programs to foreign citizens who are here illegally is one of the major reasons why "progressives" are so widely distrusted and one of the major reasons that they keep getting their proposals shot down.
And, of course, they'd be right.
Posted at 09:17 AM | Comments (2)
Fabian Nunez in snit over pro-illegal immigration resolution
From this:The rancorous national debate over illegal immigration spilled into the California Assembly on Tuesday as Democrats yanked an immigration resolution after a testy, partisan exchange that drew an outburst from Speaker Fabian Nunez.The legislation in question is numbered AJR 51, and it's of the same high quality we've come to expect from a group that reminds me more of Mexican agents than elected U.S. politicians.
The Los Angeles Democrat emerged from his office to silence Republican critics who were lambasting the nonbinding resolution.
"We're pulling the bill. You've got a problem with that?" he asked before uttering an expletive about Republican nitpicking and leaving the chamber, slamming the door that joins the Assembly to his conference room...
The key paragraph (see leginfo.ca.gov for the full text) is where they mischaracterize HR4437:
WHEREAS, Unfortunately, in December 2005, the House of Representatives passed the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 (H.R. 4437) that seeks to criminalize an individual for his or her immigration status; make any relative, coworker, parishioner, or friend who provides assistance to an undocumented worker a criminal; deny due process to undocumented immigrants; supersede United States Supreme Court decisions; and infringe on an individual's civil rights. H.R. 4437 is not in our nation's best interests and can only be characterized as mean-spirited, short-sighted, and anti-immigrant...Even Cardinal Roger Mahony (remember him?) admits that he was exaggerating about HR 4437 and soup kitchens, yet that lie made it into a possible California resolution. Their other claims are probably also lies.
Then, they show what they're really after:
...A bipartisan, comprehensive workable immigration reform package must be based on respect for human rights; a path towards permanent residency and citizenship; enforcement of border policies, protecting the wages and working conditions of all workers, whether U.S. born or immigrant workers; reunification of families; and the promotion of citizenship and civic participation...This is a bald attempt at obtaining racial power.
Posted at 09:51 PM | Comments (3)
Phil Angelides, my MySpace friend
California's far-left, in-the-pocket-of-the-unions, only-slightly-worse-than-Arnold gubanatorial candidate has a MySpace page: myspace.com/angelides. The AP says that he had nothing to do with creating that page:
But rather than kill a volunteer's unauthorized efforts, the campaign has embraced the youth-heavy site, using Angelides' personal profile page to post position papers and other announcements. It also scans the comments section to gauge what's on youths' minds, turning it into an informal focus group.I don't know who really runs the page, but whoever it is has apparently decided not to approve a comment I left there, even after I took the time to add Phil as my first real friend to my never-used account at that service. Here's the comment I tried to post; if someone can ask him this or a related question at a campaign appearance that might be interesting:
I have an (easy) math question for Phil Angelides.
Let's say California only has 1000 discounted college educations, but 2000 applicants for those discounts.
Let's say 900 of those discounts go to U.S. citizens, but 100 of those discounts go to citizens of other countries who are here illegally.
Phil, doesn't that mean that 100 U.S. citizens will not receive education discounts? Doesn't that mean that many of those U.S. citizens won't be able to go to college?
Phil, why do you support taking discounted college educations away from U.S. citizens and giving them to citizens of other countries who are here illegally?
Posted at 11:44 PM | Comments (1)
Help Tan Nguyen Beat Loretta Sanchez!
I have absolutely no idea who Tan Nguyen is, but I am unconditionally endorsing him in California's 47th District against illegal alien vote recipient Loretta Sanchez.
He needs to, of course, fix his website by using the tan4congress.com domain name which he registered. Then, he needs to transfer over the few URLs he has to a similar structure with, for instance, Drupal or another CMS. Given a suitable theme, that's only a half-day's work at most.
Posted at 10:27 AM | Comments (0)
Did Bob Mulholland proxies drive Maria Shriver out of Watsonville?
Maria Shriver appeared at a fair in Watsonville, CA on Friday to promote California's capacious welfare state. After about an hour of pressing the flesh, she was shouted down by about a dozen Brown Berets. She shortly left the event on the advice of her security contingent, with the mayor following her to the airport to apologize for the welcome.
Bob Mulholland - senior strategist for Phil Angelides, Arnold Schwarzenegger's opponent - has no comment. Another Angelides helper - Steve Maviglio - decried the incident, calling it "tragic and totally inappropriate." The latter is on loan from Fabian Nunez' office.
From this:
The incident was strikingly similar to a notorious event during the 2003 recall. Then a group of labor protesters, orchestrated by then state Democratic Party honcho Bob Mulholland, disrupted and shut down Shriver's very first campaign event on behalf of her husband, now Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
There's absolutely no evidence that Mulholland or anyone else from the Angelides campaign is involved in this. However, based on the oppressive atmosphere of sleaze surrounding the California Democratic Party and their campaigns that is certainly something worth looking into.
UPDATE: This article informs us that the BBs are not contrite, that they say the protest was reasonable, and that Councilman Manuel Bersamin is an "ally" of the BBs:
Work prevented [Bersamin] from attending Friday's event. But he said maybe Shriver will carry a message back to her husband about the anger among young Latinos in Watsonville, and that will prompt some thinking about cuts to college outreach programs, to university funding, to the crisis in health care among the poor.
Alternatively, maybe she'll realize that having an open borders policy is only going to make the situation worse and end up bankrupting the state. Then, she'll talk to her uncle-in-law about that. Youbetcha.
Posted at 09:44 PM | Comments (0)
A lone wacko in San Diego
More to follow:
Posted at 12:30 AM | Comments (1)
Fabian Nunez denies making racist speech (Prop. 187)
In 1995, current Speaker of the California Assembly Fabian Nunez spoke before the "Latino Summit Response to Prop 187" at UC Riverside and "allegedly" said, among other things, this:
There's only two forms of power in this country and in this world. One is economic power, We certainly don't have the economic power because we don't own the means of production, but there's another form of power, and that's the power of the masses. So you can be as revolutionary as you want, you can be Chicano nationalist, you can be Mexican-American, you can be Hispanic, you can believe in the concept of Aztlan, you can believe in the concept of multi-culturalism. Somebody can say 'Everybody here is wrong, I am the only one that has reached revolutionary completeness'. But the bottom line is that if we do not mobilize our community we are not putting together a setting - the parameters to establish a massive movement in our community... we can mobilize one million people and bring Washington to a standstill, and those rednecks that are out there making decisions for the betterment of their communities will think twice before they push forward anti-immigrant legislation against our community...
You can hear an audio tape "allegedly" featuring Nunez here, with additional clips here and here. The group at the first link is running excerpts of the audio clips in TV commercials in Sacramento.
Those commercials have lead to what is probably a first: a mainstream reporter (Malcolm Maclachlan of Capitol Weekly) asked ("Anti-immigrant ad targets Nunez") Nunez about his remarks, with interesting results:
A spokesman for Nunez denied that the voice was the Speaker's, and otherwise refused comment.
Now, there's certainly the possibility that the person on the audio tape who said those things was someone else at the confab. Much less possible is it's a fake, and someone who sounds like him was hired to say those things. However, on information and belief, this site is going to say that with 99.44% certainty that is indeed Nunez saying those things.
In any case, this surely must be the first article of its kind:
"I personally think these were racist comments," [Assemblyman Ray Haynes, R-Murrieta] said of the statements by Nunez and others. He added, "Some of my Democratic counterparts figured they could say whatever they wanted and their comments would never appear on the news. Thus far, the media have proven them correct."
Indeed. The Los Angeles Times and other California newspapers are quite willing to buy into Nunez' version of reality, in which he and others make racist, anti-American comments but never a dissenting word is said about them.
Posted at 12:07 PM | Comments (6)
California Democrats try to give free health care to children of illegal aliens
The Democrats in Sacramento are trying to sneak through an expansion of the "Healthy Families" program that would expand that to include the children of illegal aliens.Assemblyman John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, a budget writer, said [state Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth, R-La Mesa] was incorrect in contending that the proposal gives the children of illegal immigrants benefits not available to legal residents.Obviously, those U.S. citizens above the income limit are prohibited from receiving the benefits. But, foreign citizens who are here illegally and who are below the income limit can receive the benefits. Therefore, Laird is completely wrong.
Laird said the proposed expansion provides health care for all children whose parents are under the income limit.
"It doesn't keep anyone from getting it," he said...
As Hollingsworth points out, this proposal would just encourage even more illegal immigration. While no one wants to block children from receiving health care, if there were much less illegal immigration this wouldn't be an issue. It's those "liberals" and racial demagogues who support illegal immigration that get us into this situation in the first place. They also hurt their own chances of passing some form of universal health care, since everyone knows that those same "liberals" and racial demagogues would try to make it available to everyone and would put the state in even greater financial straits than it is already.
Since the Democrats who support this have not been censured by the national Democratic Party, it's fair to claim that the national Democratic Party fully supports illegal immigration.
Posted at 02:40 AM | Comments (2)
Rob "Meathead" Reiner's Soviet Union-style preschool initiative fails
Rob Reiner's attempt to put 4-year-olds in preschools - which would end up being state-directed and most likely mandatory - has failed ("Rob Reiner Says Campaign Raised Awareness"). The failure comes despite last-ditch effort television commercials featuring Antonio Villaraigosa, the mayor of Los Angeles and a former member of the racial separatist group MEChA.
Previously:
Rob Reiner leaves California preschool commission
First 5 California: bring back integrity!
Rob Reiner denies wrongdoing
Rob Reiner-supporting commercials paid for by tax money
Posted at 11:07 PM | Comments (1)
Illegal aliens fail to elect Francine Busby
Fear, despair, and a deep sense of foreboding engulfed the Democratic Party Tuesday as early results seem to indicate that even the illegal alien vote couldn't help Democrat Francine Busby defeat Republican Brian Bilbray in California's 50th District. The race was to replace convicted Congressman Duke Cunningham.
With 25% of precincts reporting, Bilbray leads by 50% to 44%.
Of course, it was Busby who uttered the now-infamous "you don't need papers to vote" while speaking to 50 or so people, many of whom were Spanish speakers. While she and her helpers have since issued various tortured explanations, the intent of her remarks is crystal clear to anyone who's intellectually honest.
UPDATE: It's official! The pet/illegal alien/dead people/space alien vote failed Francine Busby. And, here's a video of her infamous statement. She actually says "you don't need papers for voting". Unfortunately, the video doesn't have the question that was asked, but if it wasn't before, it's even more clear now what she was getting at.
Posted at 10:58 PM | Comments (3)
Angelides for Governor!
[As part of this site's equal time provision, we're publishing the following entry from an unnamed party known only as "TruProgressive". We have confirmed, however, that this person is not Bob Mulholland. This site does not endorse the message in any way.]
The only true progressive in the race for governor of California is Phil Angelides. He's right on the issues, and he is the only choice if you want to bring true democracy to California.
"We Can Count on Phil" isn't just a slogan, it's how he would govern this state. He will spend billions of dollars to upgrade our schools, hire new teachers, and make sure that every resident of the state - whether documented or not - can attend college. He will also spend billions of dollars on investing in our communities.
Phil has been endorsed by a wide spectrum of highly-admired Californians, from the SEIU to the California Teachers Association and from California Professional Firefighters to the California Labor Federation. Unlike the other choices, he is not in the pocket of large corporations or special interests.
I urge you to vote for Phil Angelides, the only Democrat who can beat Arnold!
Posted at 11:52 PM | Comments (2)
Sharon Runner stands up to Vicente Fox, Mexican-"American" legislators
Earlier today, Mexico's Vicente Fox spoke before the California legislature. As previously discussed, Todd Spitzer (R-Orange) conducted a silent protest. Another American went even further. Sharon Runner (R – Lancaster) refused to show up for the speech entirely. And, she might face a reprimand from the leaders in the legislature who have divided loyalties."I believe it is wrong for the California State Legislature to give this platform to a foreign head of state whose policies and corrupt government institutions pose a threat to the social, economic and security interests of the people of the United States... I will not be attending President Fox's address because I do not believe that his Administration has done enough to enforce our nation's mutual border laws and because his country continues to harbor and protect California fugitives from prosecution in the U.S."
"President Fox has a history of non-cooperation with American officials on immigration issues at both state and federal levels... Unfortunately, I am not surprised that the liberal majority in Sacramento would give President Fox this type of platform in California that puts him on equal footing with our Governor or our President. I would be open to discussion with President Fox if he were coming to explain his country's backward policies and offer some resolution and compromise to the California people. However, that is clearly not the case."
"This is one of those issues I feel that passionate about... I do not want to give credibility to the liberal majority's acceptance of illegal immigration and Mexico's official policies urging its citizens to break the law and come to the United States illegally."
"I think the California Legislature's liberal majority is confused, bending over backwards to support Mexico and illegal immigrants... I was elected by the citizens of my district and that is where I will be this evening, serving the people of the 36th Assembly District."
Posted at 08:26 PM | Comments (8)
Gloria Romero's revolution
California state senator Gloria Romero (site) will be marching in solidarity with foreign citizens today and joining their boycott and show of force, saying:
"The boycott is as American as apple pie... Many of us have decided to join in recognizing the call of immigrants for one day out of a year, one day out of American history, to simply say we matter."
Despite her best efforts to cloud the matter, they aren't "immigrants", they're illegal aliens and their supporters. But she goes even further:
Romero compared the economic boycott with the Boston Tea Party and the civil rights movement.
Obviously, there's a huge difference between the current situation and the civil rights movement, but let's recall what the Boston Tea Party was about:
The Boston Tea Party was a protest by the American colonists against Great Britain in which they destroyed many crates of tea on ships in Boston Harbor. The incident, which took place on Thursday, December 16, 1773, has been seen as helping to spark the American Revolution... The Stamp Act of 1765 and the Townshend Acts of 1767 angered colonists regarding British decisions on taxing the colonies with no representation...
Is Gloria Romero proposing a similar revolution, with illegal aliens as the new patriots and American citizens as the British? By marching with foreign citizens who oppose our laws and demand that we capitulate to their demands and by comparing this to pre-Revolutionary War America, is she committing a crime? Will the Democratic Party censure her, or will they rush to her defense?
Note of course that she's also the primary author of a resolution in support of the boycott that the following Democratic state senators approved:
Alarcon Alquist Bowen Cedillo
Chesbro Ducheny Dunn Escutia
Figueroa Kehoe Kuehl Lowenthal
Machado Migden Murray Ortiz
Perata Romero Scott Simitian
Soto Speier Torlakson Vincent
Sen. Richard Alarcon also used the same revolutionary line when explaining his support for that resolution.
It would be too much to expect that the federal government is looking into its options in this matter, but it may have to come to that if California's elected officials go much further down this path.
Posted at 09:17 AM | Comments (2)
California State Senate supports foreign citizens marching in our streets
In a shocking - but not surprising - move, the California State Senate has endorsed the May 1 illegal immigration boycott and march: SCR113. This isn't suprising considering that many California legislators frequently act more like their Mexican counterparts. It's only shocking that they would be so bold and that the resolution would be so utterly dishonest.
The full text of SCR 113 is included in the extended entry, and it conflates illegal aliens making a show of force with the civil rights movement, Arnold Schwarzenegger being elected governor, (presumably) legal immigrants who work and own businesses in Silicon Valley, and legal immigration in general.
Hopefully someone else will weigh in on what possible recourse there is in this matter. If a state senate stops representing that state and begins in effect supporting the agenda of a foreign government, could the federal government declare the state senate invalid in some way?
Note also that it passed 24-13 along party lines. Since Democrats voted for this, every Democratic Party leader should be asked whether they support the actions of their members.
And, even though they weren't going to be in session on Monday, the Assembly Democrats still wanted to collect their per-diem.
"California Senate votes to support immigration boycott" has quotes:
Sen. Gloria Romero says the boycott "is to educate people in California and across the United States about the tremendous contribution immigrants make on a daily basis to our society and economy... I ask us to simply recognize the existence of new Americans." And, from the next link: "It's one day ... for immigrants to tell the country peacefully, 'We matter ... (we're) not invisible'".
Sen. Martha Escutia: "Perhaps we ought to recognize the great American secret. We all rely on the labor of someone who is here illegally, and in essence we all become co-conspirators."
There are more quotes in the AP's "State Senate Supports Immigrant Walkout On Monday":
Sen. Gil Cedillo: likened the debate over immigrant rights to the fights over slavery, women's suffrage, the internment of Japanese during World War II, and the Vietnam War.
Sen. Richard Alarcon says: America wouldn't have been created without illegal action... "They dumped a bunch of tea in Boston harbor, illegally. God bless them."
Sen. Nell Soto: recalled watching as a child as immigration police swept up brown-skinned farmworkers, "not even asking if they were legal or illegal."
See also "California's Racial Iceberg" for more on California's problem with "American" politicians.
Authored by:
Gloria Romero
Gil Cedillo
Nell Soto
Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Joe Coto
Coauthor: Sen. Liz Figueroa
Coauthors: Assembly Members Rudy Bermudez, Ronald S. Calderon, Jenny Oropeza, Lori Saldana, Alberto Torrico
WHEREAS, May 1, 2006, is declared "The Great American Boycott 2006"
; and
WHEREAS, The United States has a tradition of historic boycotts,
including the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott that galvanized the
African-American community and resulted in the landmark 1956 United
States Supreme Court ruling against segregation; and
WHEREAS, The Great American Boycott 2006 observes that tradition
and is intended to draw attention to the contributions of immigrants
to the nation's economy, including $4.5 billion in state taxes in
California each year, and more than $30 billion in federal taxes; and
WHEREAS, Immigrants and their children comprise nearly half of the
population in this state and live in virtually all 58 counties in
California. More than one-quarter of all California residents are
foreign born, a rate higher than any other state in the country; and
WHEREAS, Immigrants participate in the workforce at rates higher
than the national average. Ninety percent of Latino and Asian male
immigrants are employed; and
WHEREAS, Immigrants comprise approximately one-third of the labor
force in California and figure prominently in key economic sectors in
California, including agriculture, manufacturing, and services; and
WHEREAS, Immigrants provide leadership and labor for the expansion
of California's growing economic sectors, from agriculture,
telecommunications, and information technology to health services and
housing construction; and
WHEREAS, Immigrants are among California's most productive
entrepreneurs and have created jobs for tens of thousands of
Californians. In San Jose alone, immigrant owners of technology
companies created more than 58,000 jobs and generated more than $17
billion in sales during the late 1990s; and
WHEREAS, The average immigrant-headed household in California
contributes over $2,600 annually to federal Social Security, $539
more than the national average; and
WHEREAS, Nearly 40 percent of California's foreign-born residents
are United States citizens; and
WHEREAS, There are currently 2.7 million immigrants in this state
who are eligible for naturalization, 3.3 million are legal permanent
residents, and millions more will soon be eligible for
naturalization; and
WHEREAS, California elected an immigrant to the highest post in
the State of California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, in the most
recent gubernatorial election; and
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of California recognizes that The
Great American Boycott 2006 is to educate people in California and
across the United States about the tremendous contribution immigrants
make on a daily basis to our society and economy; now, therefore, be
it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That May 1, 2006, be recognized as The Great
American Boycott 2006; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for distribution.
Posted at 10:33 PM | Comments (2)
Rob Reiner leaves California preschool commission
Blaming "personal attacks", money-losing movie director Rob "Meathead" Reiner has stepped down from California's preschool commission:
Just two weeks ago, Reiner dismissed suggestions that he should step down from the California First 5 Commission, which has collected nearly $4 billion in tobacco taxes to fund early childhood programs. "Everything I've done is completely legal," he said at the time.
Previously:
First 5 California: bring back integrity!
Rob Reiner denies wrongdoing
Rob Reiner-supporting commercials paid for by tax money
"[Rob] Reiner initiative bad for preschoolers"
UC study: by Third Grade, Preschool benefits disappear
"Preschool for All Act", Rob Reiner, and the government targeting 4-year-olds
"First 5 California": Yet another illegal immigration magnet
Posted at 11:02 PM | Comments (1)
Costa Mesa businesses hurt when city enforces law
Costa Mesa in Orange County CA will be checking the immigration status of those arrested for violent felonies.
Now, at first glance you might think most residents of that city would support that idea, rather than, for instance, telling lies about the proposal or complaining that it hurts their businesses (more here).
Previously:
Los Angeles Times supports illegal immigration, again and again
Costa Mesa passes local immigration enforcement law; "liberals" protest
Posted at 12:36 PM | Comments (0)
Should the feds take over Maywood California?
Maywood is a tiny (1.14 square miles) city in southeast L.A. County with at least 30,000 residents, many of them illegal aliens. I've refered to it as "Aztlan City" because they recently came out against HR4437, they've declared themselves a sanctuary for illegal aliens, and the other actions they've taken that support illegal immigration.Now, the L.A. Times has yet another article on their efforts: "Welcome to Maywood, Where Roads Open Up for Immigrants".
Oddly enough, they give some time to the dissenters:
Even within the city, the stance is controversial. Longtime residents believe the City Council has gone too far and is embracing lawlessness. They also question whether Maywood can handle more illegal immigrants.Now, there's talk of Maywood's stance spreading to other cities with - naturally - Hispanic leaders and large illegal aliens populations.
"I'm afraid we're testing the limits of the law, and that's dangerous," said longtime resident J. Luis Ceballos, 52. "I think there is a danger of people thinking that they can do whatever they want."
If this is allowed to spread, won't it set a very dangerous precedent? Wouldn't we be allowing mini-Quebecs to sprout inside Los Angeles County? What if neighboring cities with similar viewpoints banded together? Where would it stop?
It's long past time for the feds or the state to begin investigating whether these cities' officials have violated one law or another.
While they might be afraid to step in because of the feared political backlash from Mexican-"Americans" like those in the California legislature, isn't that indicative of an even greater problem? Isn't it better to step in now before it's too late to do anything?
Posted at 10:28 PM | Comments (9)
California's educational system in even worse shape than previously thought
California's schools used to be at the top of the nation, now, according to one ranking, we're between Alabama and Mississippi. This is largely, if not exclusively, due to "liberalism" (think Jackie Goldberg) as well as ethnically-compromised politicians who support illegal immigration (think Antonio Villaraigosa).Via a comment from 'eh', Dan Walters offers "Dry statistical report portends immense tragedy in the making":
...Extrapolating from the two sets of data, the exit exam could push graduation rates for African American and Latino youngsters down to a third of those who begin the ninth grade - even lower in Los Angeles and other urban school districts.
As if that weren't disturbing enough, the CRB report also surveys data on college preparation and finds a skewed effect on non-white and non-Asian students as well. Of African American and Latino kids who get through high school now (before the exit exam), just 25 and 22 percent, respectively, have completed the coursework for admission to the University of California or California State University systems.
All in all, therefore, fewer than 15 percent of African American and Latino youngsters who begin the ninth grade will be prepared for four-year college admission...
Posted at 03:54 AM | Comments (1)
Do Californians really support "guest" worker schemes?
According to the recent Field Poll, as crowed-about by the S.F. Chronical: "Two-thirds of Californians support guest-worker plan". (Related propaganda from the Contra Costa Times: "Illegal immigration gains allies").
Unfortunately, you can get the results you want or at least inaccurate results if you ask the right people the right question, and if you rely on their lack of knowledge of the issue. From their PDF, here's the question that was asked:
Do you favor or oppose reforming immigration laws to create temporary worker programs for illegal immigrants that would legalize their status and allow future immigrants to work in the U.S.?
Here's the follow-up question I would have asked:
(If 'YES') You do realize that there's no such thing as a "temporary" or "guest" worker, right? You do realize that our "guests" would be here to stay: they'd have U.S. citizen children, they'd buy property, they'd start businesses, and they'd become part of their community. Nothing is going to make them go home, especially since those same forces that oppose immigration enforcement now will still be out there and will be even more powerful than before. Now, do you still support "temporary" worker schemes?
I think that would get about a 10% 'YES' vote.
Posted at 11:40 AM | Comments (4)
First 5 California: bring back integrity!
From this:Republican activists on Saturday increased their pressure on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to replace movie director Rob Reiner as head of California's First 5 Commission, saying Reiner's decision to take a leave from his state post wasn't enough.Previously: "Rob Reiner denies wrongdoing"
Reiner on Friday took a leave of absence from the chairman's job until after the June 6 election in hopes of defusing a growing controversy about the state commission's $23 million ad campaign for preschool.
The ad campaign, first reported in The Bee in December, generated an outcry that the commission was using tax dollars to benefit the campaign for Proposition 82, the universal preschool initiative Reiner put on the June ballot.
Tony Strickland, a GOP candidate for state controller, said Saturday that the governor needed to replace Reiner with a chairman who could "bring back integrity" to the First 5 Commission.
"Bottom line, I believe they used $23 million worth of our tax dollars to fund their campaign," he said. "I don't think this should go away."
Posted at 10:28 PM | Comments (0)
Rob Reiner denies wrongdoing
Meathead is on the defensive:Hollywood director Rob Reiner denied any wrongdoing Thursday in response to recent scrutiny about the potential misuse of taxpayer funds for a June ballot initiative he is spearheading.
Reiner, who heads the state's First 5 California Children and Families Commission he helped create, is now leading a campaign for a ballot initiative that would establish a state constitutional right to preschool for all 4-year-olds and raise income taxes for wealthier households to fund a preschool program.
A Los Angeles Times story earlier this week detailed, however, how the commission spent $23 million on ads to promote the idea of "preschool for all," which happens to be the same slogan Reiner uses to describe his latest initiative, Proposition 82.
The commission also earlier paid for a political consultant who now is the campaign manager of Prop. 82, the story noted.
...Reiner's attorneys have asserted that the First 5 ads were legal and proper, and the entertainer-turned-activist himself on Thursday dismissed the Times story as "the price of being a public figure."
When asked to comment about the money spent on the commission's ads following a speech he gave in San Jose on Prop. 82, Reiner said, "There is absolutely no conflict of interest."
Posted at 02:43 AM | Comments (1)
Rob Reiner-supporting commercials paid for by tax money
From "TV Ads Put Focus on Reiner":Police sirens wail as a scruffy teenager, clutching a bag, runs frantically through the streets. Entering a schoolyard, he reaches into the bag. Out comes … a graduation gown, which he dons to receive a diploma.I assumed that the commercial they describe was being paid for by Reiner or one of his private groups. Now it turns out he's much smarter! Those Hollywoodians are indeed experts at using OPM.
The scene is from a television ad, paid for with tax money and made by consultants close to Hollywood producer Rob Reiner. It aired across California this winter, touting the benefits of preschool. "When kids go," the narrator says, "we all benefit."
The release of the ad, and two others, by a state commission Reiner heads coincided with his launch of a ballot initiative that would tax the rich to fund preschool for all California 4-year-olds.
Although Reiner did not directly approve the spots, their timing and substance highlight ties between the public commission and his private political campaigns and raise questions about whether the state-funded commercials were used to boost the initiative's prospects...
Previously: "[Rob] Reiner initiative bad for preschoolers"
Posted at 12:46 PM | Comments (0)
Does Fabian Nunez represent the U.S. or Mexico?
On Saturday, a group of pro-illegal immigration activists held a confab in Riverside. As previously discussed, it was organized by UCR professor Armando Navarro, and those speaking included California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (via a taped message) and a senator from a Mexican state. From the Lou Dobbs transcript:DOBBS: Tonight, this nation's open border movement has found itself some new friends. These border security opponents joined forces this weekend with their Mexican government counterparts at a rally in California. They even won the support of a high-ranking Mexican government official who decided to make the trip across the border.The video of this segment is in this WMV file. Can there be any doubt which side Fabian Nunez is on? Until such time as the Democratic Party disassociates themselves with him, shouldn't we assume that they share his views?
...CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Latino groups from both sides of the U.S. Mexico border held a summit to demonstrate opposition to the Sensenbrenner security border security legislation. Organizer Armando Navarro began by quoting Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, prediction a socialist revolution stretching from the tip of South America to northern Canada.
Then came a procession of open borders activists, including the Brown Berets and MEChA, the radical Latino college group that advocates returning the American Southwest to Mexico. "We are a community without borders," says this Chicago activist.
There were signs proclaiming North America a stolen continent and saying all of those of European descent here are the real illegal aliens.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is not their land. This is not their continent. This is our continent.
WIAN: Even the conference program said it was being held in Riverside California, Aztlan, the name given to the American Southwest by those who claim it rightfully belongs to Mexico. So it was no surprise that Mexican state senator Raymundo Cardenas attended to demonstrate Mexico's opposition to the Sensenbrenner bill...
...FABIEN NUNEZ, CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY SPEAKER: I'm honored to fight against the Sensenbrenner approach to immigration policy. This legislation is a flashback to those failed polarizing policies of the past...
Posted at 01:20 PM | Comments (3)
"[Rob] Reiner initiative bad for preschoolers"
Alan Bonsteel, president of California Parents for Educational Choice offers his thoughts on Rob "Meathead" Reiner's preschool initiative:...California's public schools are governed by four interlocking layers of dysfunctional bureaucracy: the federal, state, county and district levels. No one is in charge of anything, least of all the parents, voters and taxpayers. Not only do the multiple layers of bureaucracy soak up an unacceptable amount of taxpayer dollars, but disagreements among the bureaucracies are resolved through lawsuits, with the taxpayers footing the bill for each camp of dueling educrats.Previously: UC study: by Third Grade, Preschool benefits disappear and "Preschool for All Act", Rob Reiner, and the government targeting 4-year-olds.
Reiner's scheme again involves all four levels of bureaucracy, but, worse still, the primary responsibility for administering his tax funding of preschools is the black hole of California education, our county offices of education. Most voters are unaware even of the existence of these county offices, and not one in 100 can name their county superintendent of public instruction.
As a result of this lack of democratic control and public oversight over the county offices of education, the misnamed "continuation" schools they run graduate almost no one, and their schools for mentally retarded and physically handicapped kids are shamefully dysfunctional. Many school reformers have advocated for years eliminating entirely California's county offices of education and folding their responsibilities into the state Department of Education and the districts in order to streamline the bureaucracy and provide more transparency and accountability to voters.
Very few of the high-quality community-owned preschools that have served us so well would survive in an environment in which they must compete with preschools that appear to consumers to be giving away their product. As these community-owned preschools close, freedom of choice in preschool education will vanish, and the door will slam shut on quality preschool education for the low-income families who most need it. No one who understands California public education would have made such an obvious error as to put early childhood education into the hands of the county offices of education, and Reiner's initiative is yet another example of a multimillionaire abusing the initiative process and refusing to seek expert advice...
Posted at 07:37 PM | Comments (0)
UC study: by Third Grade, Preschool benefits disappear
More bad news for Meathead, aka "Rob Reiner". He's trying to push through a free-preschool-for-all proposition in California. That would probably eventually result in mandatory preschool. Past coverage starts here. There's been a massive TV and radio propaganda effort, and it might have paid off among voters who are unable to investigate all the downsides and hidden assumptions of Reiner's statistics.Now:
As proponents of universal preschool in California kicked off their campaign with news of an upbeat poll, a study on the lasting effects of preschool indicates many of its benefits may wear off by the time students reach third grade.However, Reiner's popularity is pretty low, so maybe the voters will have second thoughts once they realize who's agenda all those cuddly commercials have been promoting.
The University of California study, parts of which will be released today at a Sacramento conference, focuses on non-English-speaking children who went to preschool. Students who had gone to preschool gained a head start on literacy and language skills that gave them a leg up through third grade, according to the study by UC Santa Barbara professor Russell Rumberger, director of the UC Linguistic Minority Research Institute.
Rumberger's national study comes as the universal preschool camp, led by Hollywood movie director Rob Reiner, campaigns to convince voters that all 4-year-olds would benefit from a year of free preschool and that every public dollar spent on universal preschool would result in future savings on education, crime reduction and social services.
Other studies, among numerous attempts to assess the impact of preschool in general, have established that universal preschool gives children a boost in kindergarten and beyond.
The Reiner camp hopes to increase attendance to at least 70 percent of all 4-year-olds. The campaign is starting on a high note with results from a statewide survey by the Public Policy Institute of California showing that 63 percent of likely voters support the initiative...
Posted at 09:06 PM | Comments (1)
Sen. Cedillo says, 'This is the year'
California state Senator "One Bill Gil" Cedillo earns that nickname because each year he tries to pass a bill giving driver's licenses to illegal aliens. He thinks this year he'll finally get his anti-American wish.
He bases that on Arnold's ballot measures failing, on the shakeup in Arnold's top ranks, and on this:
Even in conservative districts, voters are becoming less extremist, as evidenced by the recent Orange County election of state Sen. John Campbell, R-Irvine, over Jim Gilchrist to fill a vacant congressional seat, Cedillo said.
He must be living in a fantasy world. First, of course, enforcing our immigration laws is not "extremist". Cedillo's schemes to give rights to citizens of another country who are here illegally is what's extremist.
Second, while everyone else realizes just how strong the Gilchrist showing was, Cedillo thinks that's evidence that the public doesn't want our laws to be enforced.
As could be expected, they trot out someone from a race group to say this is about "public safety". It's actually about a racial power grab.
Most Californians are strongly opposed to what Cedillo wants, and I wonder what Democrats elsewhere think of him. Would it be unfair to make him the poster child of the modern Democratic Party? Can anyone say with a straight face that he represents American and not Mexican interests? Perhaps promoting him as a leading Democrat might be a way for the national Dems to rein in their extremist California wing.
Previously: "Arnold Schwarzenegger vetos driver's licenses for illegal aliens", "Bill would prevent illegal aliens' cars from being impounded", and "CalInsider: Arnold should just say driver's licenses for illegal aliens is a bad idea".
Posted at 06:35 AM | Comments (1)
California governor Al Gore?
Our sources tell us that Al Gore has spent $2 million on a condo in San Francisco, also the home of his latest Current TV venture. Could this be preparation for a run for governor of California? Or, does he just like the luxury ambience of his new digs?
Sources say that "ever since people learned that Al and Tipper Gore were moving into the St. Regis" requests for information skyrocketed. In fact, a closely-placed source informs this blogger that "there's something about living near a person so powerful and important that really excites folks".
They're not just excited, they're practically irrationally exuberant:
"A client of mine just moved into the swanky Four Seasons a few blocks away, where the Mayor happens to be. It's a great place. But when she heard the Gores were moving into the St. Regis, she called me up and said she wants to sell her place so she can move to the St. Regis right away! I guess it's more exciting to live near a former VP than a current Mayor."
Posted at 01:49 PM | Comments (2)
"Preschool for All Act", Rob Reiner, and the government targeting 4-year-olds
In June 2006, California will vote on Rob Reiner's scheme to establish voluntary preschool. Previously we offered "First 5 California": Yet another illegal immigration magnet, and here are a few more interesting links:Why Californians Should Vote NO On "Preschool-For-All" in June 2006. That's from a homeschooling group, but they have 15 reasons worthy of your consideration.
"Will Universal Preschool Give All Kids a Head Start?"
...Critics wonder why billions should be tossed at expanding a school system that is so grossly failing the children currently in its care. Both sides agree: universal preschool involves increasing government's "parental" role regarding children. It involves a new bureaucracy that focuses on 4-year-olds...Read the rest of the article, because those statistics - which you might have heard on the radio or on TV - seem to be based on rather questionable studies. Speaking of which, the Mercury News pimps the scheme in "Study supports measure's claims". Only in the seventh out of ninth paragraph do we get the other side:
Reiner's campaign may also serve as a model on how to turn universal preschool advocacy into governmental reality. In 1997, Reiner founded the I Am Your Child Foundation (now Parents Action for Children) to fight "for issues such as early education." In 1998, Reiner campaigned successfully for Proposition 10, a ballot initiative to tax tobacco products in order to fund preschool programs.
That same year, a California Department of Education report called for a half-day of preschool for every 3 or 4-year-old by 2008. Two bills before the 1998 state legislature unsuccessfully attempted to establish the system. By 2004, Reiner and the California Teachers Association had qualified a universal preschool initiative for the ballot but ultimately withdrew it in a joint statement.
In short, California has a long history of activists working in concert with various bureaucracies in order to expand both the reach and the funding of the CDE.
As usual, statistics and studies have been flashed in support...
Critics, including researchers at Princeton University and the Brookings Institution, have raised concerns about the Chicago Child-Parent Centers study, in part because of its small sample size. Others, including Lance Izumi of the Pacific Research Institute, question whether a targeted, relatively small Chicago study can be adequately extrapolated for a state as large, and as diverse, as California.But, wait, it gets worse. Jill Tucker from the Daily Review offers "Study shows free preschool changes kids' lives forever/Experts say universal program is big investment with big returns". It contains no negative information whatsoever. Now, given the headline and the content, what do we normally call things like that?
Posted at 06:33 PM | Comments (1)
Has massive illegal immigration helped California's economy?
The California Economic Strategy Panel, a quasi-governmental group, commissioned a new study called "The Impact of Immigration on the California Economy" that supposedly shows that massive immigration - legal and illegal - hasn't resulted in California falling into the ocean. Here's the PDF file, and the S.F. Chronicle discusses it in a report that is surprisingly not as biased as one might expect: "What immigration brings California: Study evaluates the costs, benefits of a huge influx of foreign workers".
The new California report seeks to quantify migration trends since 1990 and assess their impacts at the broadest economic level. Its principal finding is that California, with its high rate of immigration, has done better than the national average over the past 15 years according to such measures as wages, job creation and unemployment.
A few economists support massive immigration being good, however:
Harvard economist George Borjas argues that labor competition from immigrants has a much larger impact on wages. To use the same example, if foreign-born workers in the $10-per-hour job category increased by 10 percent, Borjas would expect wages to be whittled back 30 cents or more... "California is a prosperous state,'' Borjas said. "Its prosperity masks the impact. But California is less well off than it would have otherwise been without this immigration."
Amidst all this "big picture" talk, the reporter manages to find the time to interview two "immigrants" who say they never took an American's job. Oh what a wonderful world it would be if anecdotal evidence and false generalizations weren't logical fallacies.
Posted at 07:22 AM | Comments (2)
The John Campbell-Bush administration axis
This site supports Jim Gilchrist of the Minuteman Project in Tuesday's runoff election in the 48th Congressional District.
While I'm sure there are various links between his opponent John Campbell and the Bush administration, here's one with an actual dollar figure: on 11/14, VP Dick Cheney helped Campbell raise $125,000.
Note that the Bush administration has practically installed flashing neon arrows at the border directing the cheap labor northward. And, yesterday we noted that the chairman of the RNC and former head of Bush-Cheney campaign, Ken Mehlman, supports massive illegal immigration.
If you want to keep the borders as porous as possible, support the GOP leadership. If you want to do something about massive illegal immigration, support Gilchrist.
Posted at 03:05 PM | Comments (4)
"First 5 California": Yet another illegal immigration magnet
The Meathead, aka Rob Reiner, wants to give preschool to every child in California. Needless to say, illegal aliens won't be excluded from this program, making this yet another flashing neon sign encouraging people to immigrate here illegally.
And, he claims he's got 1,000,000 signatures on a petition to get it on the June 2006 ballot.
Their homepage is here and more info here.
Here are the downsides of Rob Reiner and his plan.
They have some relationship with this, which has a SF chapter. From that chapter's site comes a .doc file cached here or here, which contains this from early 2004:
EXTERNAL FACTORS/TRENDS THAT WILL/MIGHT HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON PRUSUING PRESCHOO FOR ALL IN SAN FRANCISCOBrainstormed List:
* Geographic location
* Current fiscal crisis
* CTA/Reiner Initiative is already finalized without input from
anybody else
* Preschool for All vs. the school district
* Investing more in families that already have instead of focusing on
the disadvantaged
* Head Start ? difficulty dealing and planning with them
* Preschool is being defined outside of us
* Could be stuck with funding and policies (e.g. half day only,
whether it starts out universal or phases in) that have been
predetermined for us
* Confusing where Reiner and State Prop 10 are together
* Problem with sustainability
* Focus on assessment and testing of 4 year olds
* Availability of facilities
* Structure, time-wise, of the program ? could have negative
consequences e.g. family vacations
* Difficulty leveraging the money
* Declining family and child population in the city
* High cost of housing
* Difficulty with transportation
Posted at 12:13 AM | Comments (1)
"How the liars won"
KFI host John Ziegler had an editorial in yesterday's L.A. Times:The results of the special election, while largely expected, are truly remarkable for what they reveal about who we are as a state and the current nature of our political landscape. They are not just important because they may end up being Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Waterloo, but also because they show so clearly that our political discourse is terribly broken, perhaps far beyond repair.He also mentions the KNBC forum that was hijacked by Democratic activists.
For instance, how in the world did Proposition 77 get so badly clobbered? The initiative — which would have taken legislative and congressional redistricting out of the hands of politicians and given it to a nonpartisan panel of judges — had the backing of our until-recently-popular governor, numerous Democrats and the majority of Republicans, as well as Common Cause and even the admittedly liberal editorial board of the L.A. Times (and every other major paper in the state)...
Not that many officials were willing to speak out publicly against trying to fix a clearly busted system of redistricting that nearly everyone agrees is corrupt and anti-democratic. Instead, the plan was apparently shot down because of 30-second TV ads that alternately featured a long-forgotten "People's Court" judge and three nameless (but clearly evil) old white male actors in robes who were seen carving up the state to look like Texas.
[...examples of the lying commercials...]
Unfortunately, in a country with a 1st Amendment, it is both impossible and inadvisable to ban or even restrict lying in a political campaign. However, that does not mean that there should be absolutely no repercussions for those who bend or break the truth in the pursuit of electoral victory. This is where the news media in California, as well as the public, failed in their democratic duties.
The newspapers (including this one, the paper of record for the region) made only a feeble effort to separate fact from fiction when it came to these absurd ads, and even then they made it seem as if both sides of the "debate" were lying equally.
...At least newspapers made some sort of an effort. Local TV news outlets (the very same ones that were making by far the most money from this election) gave almost a complete pass to the ads that were airing during their newscasts, focusing instead almost exclusively on the "horse race" aspect of the election...
Posted at 03:27 PM | Comments (1)
Phil Angelides for Governor, Part 3 (Arnold bad man edition)
California Treasurer Phil Angelides has issued a statement on the 2005 Special Election.
Most of it is one long series of anti-Arnold smears: he's turned his back on people, he considers almost everyone his enemy, etc. etc.
He doesn't say exactly what he'd do differently, only offering a borderline-frothing set of vague promises to lift California to hitherto unseen heights. However, we can figure it out: tax, tax, spend, spend, give the unions even more power, tax, spend, give the unions even more power, tax, spend, repeat until bankruptcy.
At the end he says "And may the great debate begin." What does this guy think he is, in a stage play? The only problem is that given what proceeded that, no debate is planned: he intends to promise everyone everything while continuing the smears that the unions used to strike down Arnold's propositions.
But, despite the pathetic campaign Schwarzenegger ran for those props, I have trouble believing that even the most incompetent political strategist could not clean the floor with Angelides.
Previously in this series:
Part 2 (intellectual dishonesty)
Posted at 12:19 PM | Comments (2)
The ultimate Special Election voting guide
The unions and the far-lefties in the California legislature have conducted what has to be one of the dirtiest, sleaziest, most dishonest campaigns ever. In case you're still undecided, here are a few links:
- Xrlq has a voting guide here (List of other guides here).
_ BFT has his own here; the only difference is he says "no" on 78 (with 79, they form opposing propositions).
- (UPDATE) Here's another roundup.
- Indepundit has an ANSWER mailing with their voting guide and he suggests voting the exact opposite from what they suggest. Makes (mostly) good sense to me.
Here's what I suggest:
73 - YES! (Parental notification before abortion)
Kids have to get parental approval to get body piercings, but not to get an abortion? And, they can still get the abortion, this proposition would only require that the parents were notified. Don't worry about the scare tactics that children would need to navigate the judicial system, I'm sure plenty of "advocates" will spring up. Note, however, that this might have a bit of a poison pill as described here, so I'm not 100% on supporting this.
74 - YES! (Public school teacher tenure)
Strongly support.
75 - YES! (Public employee union dues)
Strongly support. Unions supporting far-left policies is what got us into the mess we're in.
76 - YES! (State spending & school funding limits)
Strongly support.
77 - YES! (Redistricting)
Strongly support.
78 - NO! (Prescription drugs, drug companies' version)
79 - NO! (Prescription drugs, socialists version)
80 - NO! (Regulation of electric service providers)
See this argument.
Posted at 07:03 PM | Comments (2)
L.A. Times buries news about anti-Arnold forum
The Los Angeles Times offers "Gov.'s Effort to Engage Voters Stalls", which, buried down in the sixth paragraph, has this:
A forum Thursday in Los Angeles at times resembled an anti-Schwarzenegger campaign rally. Democratic activists made their way into the audience that questioned the governor, contributing to the angry tone. KNBC-TV later apologized for unwittingly admitting the activists.
It's quite a bit more than that, as you can read about in "Arnold Schwarzenegger TV questioners included three Democratic activists".
Here's your takeaway: you just can't trust the Los Angeles Times.
Posted at 02:12 PM | Comments (1)
Yes on Proposition 76
The SDUT lays it on the line in "Beyond shameless. Ad attacks on Prop. 76 are utterly dishonest":...This goes beyond semantic gymnastics to rancid deceit – suggesting that it's Schwarzenegger who's eager to hammer taxpayers, not the Democratic legislators who have proposed dozens of tax hikes over the past two years to pay for their spending binge, and who constantly look for ways around two-thirds requirements to raise taxes. The governor says if Proposition 76 fails, then tax hikes will have to be considered – and this is fired back at him as if his real goal is higher taxes, not constrained spending. Huh?
As this should make plain, so long as it might win votes, there is virtually no argument too deranged or dishonest for the desperate defenders of California's failing status quo. Up is down, black is white, right is wrong. Come Tuesday, don't let the unions get away with this perverse crusade.
Posted at 10:48 AM | Comments (1)
Yes on Proposition 77
If you've seen the commercials against Proposition 77, you've been lied to. Don't believe the lies: vote yes, it's the only way to reform Sacramento.See this:
In the ocean of distortions that has become the campaign against Proposition 77, Senate leader Don Perata last week briefly became an island of truth. The Alameda County Democrat admitted that politicians prefer to control the drawing of their own district lines to make it easier to keep themselves in office.
"We are politicians, and we do have the interests of incumbents at heart," he said.
But Perata's foray into frankness, alas, was short-lived...
...The real insult is that the warning about "power-hungry politicians" was paid for by - you guessed it - power-hungry politicians, and mailed by the California Democratic Party. While Proposition 77 has been endorsed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, against the advice of many of his Republican Party colleagues, it is also backed by Common Cause, TheRestOfUs.org and CalPIRG, three very independent, grass-roots groups that have been fighting for years to put the job of redistricting in the hands of an independent commission. Some power grab...
...When people ask why we are having a special election, why can't the governor and the Legislature just work things out, Proposition 77 provides the best explanation. There is no other way to make this change. It requires a constitutional amendment, and while the Legislature in theory could place one on the ballot, politicians have never shown any tendency to give up even a sliver of the power they cherish. An independent ballot initiative is the only way.
Posted at 07:41 AM | Comments (0)
Arnold Schwarzenegger TV questioners included three Democratic activists
Last night Arnold Schwarzenegger was grilled in a televised appearance by a supposedly "demographically and politically balanced audience".However, the questioning was biased strongly against him, and this appearance is the latest in a long line of dirty tricks: at least three of those who questioned him were Democratic Party activists.
The L.A. Times does not mention this in their report Governor Stays Cool as Voters Fire Questions:
Appearing live on a KNBC-TV Channel 4 forum at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, the Republican governor was peppered with hostile questions from a crowd of about 75 voters screened by the station. One told Schwarzenegger that his proposal to change the law on union campaign donations was fraudulent. Another got into a shouting match with the governor over his proposal to scale back teacher tenure. Still another suggested, in a question directed to one of Schwarzenegger's rivals, that the governor hoped to establish dictatorial power over the state budget.Now, read County activists grill the governor:
Two Camarillo Democratic activists peppered Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday with the toughest questions he's faced during a special-election campaign in which the governor has mostly appeared before only hand-selected audiences.Please send this post to everyone you know who lives in California. Let's get the word out and try to counteract the damage that KNBC and their "research firm" have done.
During a televised town hall forum at the Skirball Cultural Center, however, Schwarzenegger faced hostile questions from a panel selected by a market research firm hired by KNBC. Among those chosen to ask questions were Larry Miller, a member of the Ventura County Democratic Central Committee; Chris Robson, a member of the state Democratic Party Central Committee representing the 37th Assembly District; and Mary Pallant of Oak Park, an announced candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 24th Congressional District.
Alejandro Puesan of the station's research department said the selections were made randomly by the research firm charged with selecting questioners who represented the demographics of Southern California, by gender, age, race, ethnicity, county of residence and political affiliation.
Miller, an elected trustee of the Ventura County Community College District, engaged in such a fierce exchange with Schwarzenegger that at one point, when the governor sought to complete his response, Miller blurted out, "No, I'm not going to let you finish because you're wrong."
And, contact popular bloggers as well. Details here.
And, send an email to knbc.news@nbc.com (politely) letting them know what you think.
UPDATE: From LA TV station apologizes to Schwarzenegger after audience mix-up:
KNBC-TV apologized to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaign Friday after the station found that the audience it organized for a voter forum this week apparently included several Democratic activists.Keep sending emails to KNBC: an apology isn't enough.
The Republican governor was peppered with questions with a partisan slant at the televised event Thursday, and at one point a man in the audience tried to shout him down...
...the station was unaware that several of those picked were actively involved in local Democratic politics, and that was never made clear in the broadcast.
The company recruited the Ventura County voters from a list of "politically aware" citizens it had compiled, [news director Robert Long] said. But survey forms submitted by prospective audience members gave no hint that some had partisan ties - because they weren't asked...
During the forum, the abundance of politically charged questions didn't appear to unsettle the governor.
Schwarzenegger "did exactly what he should have done, which was politely listen to their not-so-polite questions and set the record straight," said Todd Harris, a spokesman for the governor's campaign.
UPDATE 2: The "research firm" is Cultural Access Group (accesscag.com). They're also now doing some work for... Fabian Nunez. If you see their name on something in the future, contact the news media with this post. If you hear about a TV station or newspaper selecting a public panel discussion of some kind, try to find out whether the CAG is involved.
Posted at 06:17 PM | Comments (0)
"Wapner ads give Arnie a whupping"
The New York Daily News continues to show just how special a newspaper they are with this. While there's certainly the possibility that it was those specific lies that are (supposedly) causing support for Arnold's propositions to drop, there's also the possibility that it's all the other lies combined, together with Arnie's campaign's incompetence in not pointing out that those ads were lying. (I'd say "post hoc ergo propter hoc" here, but the NYDN wouldn't understand it.)
Arnold's campaign needs to come out swinging and counteract the lies. But, they've only got a couple days left to - finally - set the record straight. Whoever's running his campaign should have been sent to Juneau to run dog catchers' races by now.
Posted at 05:09 AM | Comments (0)
TV stations misleading about assault at anti-Arnold rally?
Previously I offered "True face of Democratic Party: union thugs attack woman at anti-Arnold rally": she had her cap pulled off, she was beaten with signs, and one of the security workers ripped up her signs.
Now, speaking on KFI, the victim of the assault claims it was even worse than what was shown on TV. She says the pro-union forces also poured water on her head and threw things at her. And, she says that several TV stations must have filmed that.
Yet, only a small - but highly disturbing - segment of the attack was shown on just two Los Angeles TV stations.
She'll be appearing on Hannity and Colmes tomorrow night, so hopefully they'll be able to find the full footage from, for instance, Fox's local affiliate.
As I said before: if you're on the fence or you're a reasonable person who opposes these propositions for some reason, watch the video. And, send the link to the video to everyone else so they can see what the other side really is.
Posted at 04:28 PM | Comments (0)
Another dirty trick by the anti-Proposition 77 forces
Those opposed to Proposition 77 (the redistricting initiative) have sent out a mailer to California Republicans marked on the outside with "Jury Duty" in big print and "Is good citizenship" below that in small print. Thus causing a larger-than-normal percentage of people to read what's inside, which turns out to be a misleading, anti-Prop 77 screed.
More on that here, and note that it's not known who perpetrated this. There's a picture of the envelope and other examples of dirty tricks here.
Posted at 04:00 PM | Comments (2)
True face of Democratic Party: union thugs attack woman at anti-Arnold rally
Yesterday the anti-Arnold forces held a rally in downtown Los Angeles. It featured Antonio Villaraigosa, Fabian Nunez, and, in the crowd, lots of union members and one lone Arnold supporter.
Read the report in "UNION THUGS attack Schwarzenegger supporter at Villarogosa rally in Los Angeles - VIDEO!!!". The video is of a KCAL report from Carter Evans, and it's available in this 10 Meg WMV file.
If you're on the fence, or you're a reasonable person but you oppose Arnold's propositions for some reason, you need to see this video.
From the reporter's voiceover:
Opponents tried to hit her with their signs, and some blocked news cameras as she argued her point. The crowd turns quickly, grabbing her signs and tearing them up, even a woman wearing an orange security vest angrily rips up the Vote Yes signs.
Someone wearing a 'Unite Here' T-shirt reaches down from the stage and grabs the victim's cap off, and she has to reach back to grab it back. And, I saw at least one person put her hands on the victim. The victim is white, and the security person mentioned above is black. But, almost everyone else surrounding her was Hispanic.
Hopefully she'll file a police complaint about the possible assault and, while I'm extremely doubtful, perhaps it could even be prosecuted as a hate crime.
This is the face of the California Democratic Party and the opposition to Arnold Schwarzenegger, and it is not a pretty sight at all.
UPDATE: There's a press release on this assault from the California Republican Party here.
For more, see my collection of links on the Special Election.
UPDATE 2: Now linked by the COTB.
Posted at 04:16 PM | Comments (2)
Gray Davis now "resource" at UCLA
Disgraced and recalled former California governor Gray Davis is joining the University of California Los Angeles as a "distinguished policy fellow."
Davis, who is also an attorney, will serve as a guest lecturer in classes, participate in panels, and generally serve as a resource for faculty and students on issues involving California state politics at UCLA's School of Public Affairs, department spokesman Stan Paul said Thursday.
Posted at 09:25 AM | Comments (2)
California ranked 46th in education
The "Education State Rankings" from Morgan Quitno Press has ranked the 50 states on education: States were graded on 21 factors, including student achievement and attendance, positive outcomes, strong student-teacher relationships and school district efficiency... number of high school graduates, reading, writing and math proficiency, percent of school-age kids in public schools, high school drop out rates, student-teacher ratios and class size.
I've never heard of that Press or their survey before, but I suspect there's some hidden agenda at work somewhere in it. Nevertheless, here are the top five:
1. Vermont
2. Connecticut
3. Massachusetts
4. New Jersey
5. Maine
New Jersey? These top rankings might have something to do with the way their school districts are structured, by city rather than by county. Or, perhaps it's all that snow. Anyway, here are the bottom ten:
41. Tennessee
42. Hawaii
43. Alabama
44. Alaska
45. Louisiana
46. California
47. Nevada
48. New Mexico
49. Mississippi
50. Arizona
Note that while California lost out to Alabama, at least we're still ahead of Mississippi. Whoo! And, note also that four out of the five worst states have something in common: they're destinations for huge numbers of illegal aliens.
That, of course, has something to do with it; without them California would probably be near the top. Of course, you will never hear any liberals talking about that. Better to be worse than Alabama than to be called "mean-spirited".
Posted at 11:28 PM | Comments (4)
Los Angeles Times endorses Proposition 75
In an official, editorial page endorsement, the LAT has thrown whatever weight it has left behind the same proposition that Arnold Schwarzenegger supports: "Their views, their dues":
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that union members cannot be forced to finance political activity, and Proposition 75 merely requires that public employee unions get written consent from their members before their dues and fees are used for political purposes. Currently, union members must request specifically that their dues not be spent on politics, and there is some question about how realistic a choice this is in some unions. Shifting the burden to the union to gain the consent of a member — as Washington, Utah and other states now require — does not seem onerous, and may even encourage greater accountability on the part of union leadership.
UPDATE: Here's a Special Election blog. See also the following:
True face of Democratic Party: union thugs attack woman at anti-Arnold rally
One of the California Teachers Association commercials appears to be, er, lying.
The California Teachers Association is spending itself into financial difficulties with these sleazy ads.
Union thugs shout down teachers suing over union electioneering
One of the fire fighters commercials features Mark Skeen. Did you know he's not just a firefighter, but the executive vice president of the San Jose Fire Fighters Union?
And, this is in some ways a battle between Arnold and the far-lefties in the California legislature. They are far-left indeed.
Here's more on CA Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg. The Policy Committee for the World Communist Youth Festival? She was on it.
From 2003: "Recall Supporters Violently Attacked"
And, here's a quote from former CA State Senator John Vasconcellos, D-Santa Clara: "Since [the U.S.] stole [the U.S. Southwest] from [Mexico], why do you say it's unfair to steal it back from us?"
CA State Sen. Gil Cedillo said something similar ("they were here first") in part of his continual quest to get legal California driver's licenses into the hands of illegal aliens from Mexico.
And, see "California legislators ask Mexican Senate to intervene [in driver's licenses for illegal aliens]": "We want the Mexican people to know that the measure is on [Arnold Schwarzenegger's] desk... However it is now September and he has not responded whatsoever, although we will insist on approval of the bill, basically so that illegal migrants can have access to education and health services in the U.S..."
Bottom line: Arnold is up against some really bad people who don't have the state's best interests at heart. Don't believe their lies.
UPDATE 2: See also the following:
True face of Democratic Party: union thugs attack woman at anti-Arnold rally
Arnold Schwarzenegger TV questioners included three Democratic activists (the questioners were billed to the viewers as "balanced" and "representative", and those activists weren't identified as such. Needless to say, the Los Angeles Times buried this news.)
Posted at 08:31 AM | Comments (1)
Mount Diablo retains name
The attempt to change the name of Mount Diablo has failed. A majestic 3849' peak by any other name would be as crowded with tourons.[Art Mijares of Oakley] withdrew his first suggestion, Mount Kawukum, after learning the moniker was a gimmick promoted by an early 20th century real estate developer.
He then suggested Mount Yahweh, claiming the word meant not only "God" in Hebrew but also "The Creator" in the tribal language of the Miwok tribe. But a tribe spokeswoman said the word is not listed in the Miwok dictionary.
Posted at 10:31 PM | Comments (2)
California Teachers Association wants $40 million line of credit
As blurbed here, the CTA's controller, Carlos Moreno, says it's already spent all of the money it expects to get over the next three years from the recent $60 annual fee it charged its members to conduct their anti-Arnold campaign.Now, they want a $40 million line of credit.
From the controller's affadavit in this PDF file:
Since June 21, 2005, CTA has continued to spend considerable sums of mone on the initiative campaign. Spending this money has necessitated CTA obtaining a $14 million loan. We are currently paying interest on that loan. CTA has spent the money on the initiative in reliance [on the $60 increase]...Previously: "Don't believe the California Teachers Association TV commercials".
CTA is in the process of negotiating a necessary $40 million line of credit. The proposed terms for the new line of credit call for the income stream from the $60 dues increase, together with CTA's other ongoing income, to pay back the principal and interest. If the TRO is granted, it will greatly harm or destroy CTA's ability to get this line of credit. If CTA is unable to get this line of credit, there is a significant risk that an outstanding $20 million line will be called. Millions of CTA's members dues dollars are possibly at stake...
UPDATE: From this:
The governor's people have tallied up the money raised so far by the unions against his initiatives, accounted for transfers among the committees and say the total now tops $100 million...
Posted at 02:29 PM | Comments (2)
Don't like the test results? Switch to Spanish. Thankfully, Arnold vetoes.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed a bill that would allow high schools to administer No Child Left Behind-mandated tests in Spanish. Now, some of you out there might think that giving such tests in Spanish is a lunatic idea leading to language balkanization and the like. But, you probably aren't a Denise Ducheny (D-San Diego)-grade "liberal":
"Forcing newly arrived students to test in English measures their language ability, not knowledge of school subjects... The bill didn't exempt students from taking the tests and wouldn't keep us from our goal of teaching them English; it simply would have given us a better tool to test what they know in science, math and other subject areas."
"Newly arrived" is Ducheny for "illegal aliens". Science, math, and other similar subjects don't demand the English proficiency of things like essay writing. And, not testing students in English will take the heat off teaching them English, meaning they'll end up even worse off.
The tests in question have been already dumbed down far enough, and still there are incredible problems: 20% of California high school seniors can't pass junior high test.
The bottom line is this: if "liberals" and corrupt "conservatives" weren't forcing us to educate hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens from the Third World this would not be an issue.
Posted at 10:59 PM | Comments (1)
California Teachers Association in financial difficulties?
Are the anti-Arnold forces having financial problems? Reports are that they're borrowing money reportedly to pay off earlier loans. How much they owe, how much they want, and what it's for has not yet been confirmed. Developing...
Posted at 03:42 PM | Comments (0)
Don't believe the California Teachers Association TV commercials
Have you seen the TV commercial from the California Teachers Association that includes the following?"...Now his Prop. 74 allows a principal to fire a teacher without giving a reason or even a hearing. Prop 74, another bad Schwarzenegger idea that hurts our schools."As you might expect from the CTA, there are some things wrong with that statement:
The teachers association said a technicality in the proposition's wording would let districts fire a teacher without a hearing, although chief attorney Beverly Tucker acknowledged teachers could still seek a hearing after their dismissal. Current law gives teachers 30 days to request the hearing before they are fired.You just can't trust the CTA or the other anti-Arnold groups.
"When you get that notice, you are fired, but then you have a chance to appeal it," Tucker said. "That actually is a really important distinction, because that determines whether your pay and your medical benefits continue."
Proposition 74 does require two consecutive unsatisfactory performance evaluations before a teacher can be fired. Current law requires a district to document a history of poor performance.
Tucker acknowledged that a principal still would not be able to directly fire a teacher, but she said school boards routinely act on the recommendations of principals.
Todd Harris, a spokesman for Schwarzenegger's California Recovery Team, said it's false to claim that teachers could be fired without a reason.
"The reason for termination is simple: It's because you have received two unsatisfactory job evaluations," he said. "So to suggest that you're fired for no reason is ridiculous."
Posted at 03:54 AM | Comments (0)
Arnold Schwarzenegger's firefighters photo-op: a set-up?
"Firefighters say they were ordered to attend Schwarzenegger event" the headlines scream. Appearing at a fire in Burbank, Arnold's people did a photo op of him with those fighting the incident. Now, those with whom he posed say they were "ordered and forced" to take part in the photo-op.
But, were they? Obviously, anyone who's seen the various anti-Arnold commercials know that these people are the lowest of the low. Is there the possibility that some of them didn't want to do it, but others did? Could those in the latter camp fear retribution from their fellow union members? And, could this have been a set-up? That is, these firefighters only took part in the photo-op so they can now claim they were forced? Maybe some brave fire fighter will come forward and let us know the truth of this matter.
You have to give the unions credit for being good with propaganda, but it would be much better if Arnold, who is after all an international movie star, could at least match them. He really should consider hiring someone who's a bit more adept at fighting against people like this.
Posted at 05:13 PM | Comments (2)
Phil Angelides for Governor, Part 2 (intellectual dishonesty)
Dan Walters offers "Intellectual dishonesty reaches new low in Angelides debt report":[Phil] Angelides is the state's banker, and one would expect that he would feel at least some compunction about the integrity of official financial reports. But he's also the leading Democratic candidate for governor and has never been shy about using his official position to tout himself or causes to advance his political career, or to undermine rivals. And the new Debt Affordability Report expands on that practice.
Titled "Stop the Borrowing Binge," it's an attack on Republican Gov. Arnold's Schwarzenegger's fiscal policies masquerading as a sober statistical report. "The findings of today's report are clear," Angelides said in an accompanying statement. "Gov. Schwarzenegger's budget plan has put our state in a terrible fiscal bind. California's level of debt is far greater than when he took office 23 months ago and the state is facing deficits as far as the eye can see." And so forth.
But if one sets aside the overheated rhetoric and looks at the report's numbers, the reality is not nearly as condemnatory. They reveal that predecessor Gray Davis ran up $18 billion in debt to cover budget deficits (not counting billions more in back-door financing not carried on the books) and that during the two Schwarzenegger years, it increased by another $8 billion...
Posted at 01:44 PM | Comments (2)
Gavin Newsom: WiFi access is a "civil rights issue"
Bearing in mind that Gavin Newsom was the "moderate" choice for mayor of San Francisco, let's peer through the viewing window at "S.F. mayor sees wireless service as basic right":San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who became internationally known for his campaign a year ago to legalize gay marriage, on Monday said he considered wireless Internet access a fundamental right of all citizens...
"This is inevitable -- Wi-Fi. It is long overdue," Newsom told a news conference at San Francisco's City Hall. "It is to me a fundamental right to have access universally to information," he said...
But the mayor also singled out the power of Wi-Fi as an alternative network to provide emergency information to all citizens in the event a natural disaster such as an earthquake were to strike the city and knock out other communications.
Thus, wireless access can be seen a basic right that should be available not just to business professionals but also lower-income citizens. "This is a civil rights issue as much as anything else," Newsom said...
Posted at 05:25 AM | Comments (1)
20% of California high school seniors can't pass junior high test
I wonder if the state of California could file a class action lawsuit against the federal government for their refusal to enforce our immigration laws, leading to the situation described in "20% of Seniors Flunk High School Graduation Exam".Twenty percent of CA's HS seniors - about 100,000 people - have failed our graduation exam. Many of those seniors are illegal aliens, and their presence in the schools also reduces the resources available to the Americans who are flunking the exam.
And, that exam "is geared to an eighth-grade level in math and to ninth- and 10th-grade levels in English."
In other words, it's a junior high school or freshman/sophomore in high school level test, administered to highschool seniors, and one-fifth of them can't pass it.
But the report by the Virginia-based Human Resources Research Organization showed that tens of thousands of students, particularly those in special education and others who speak English as a second language, may fail the test by the end of their senior year despite remedial classes, after-school tutoring and other academic help...Perhaps a portfolio of their basket-weaving work.
... Among its findings: 63% of African Americans and 68% of Latinos in the class of 2006 have passed both parts of the exam.
By comparison, 89% of Asians and 90% of whites have passed. The report recommended that the state keep the exam but consider several alternatives for students who can't pass.
"Clearly, we need to have some options for these students," said Lauress L. Wise, the firm's president, in a telephone interview with reporters.
The state, for example, could allow seniors to submit portfolios of work that demonstrate mastery of English and math, the report's authors suggested.
California's superintendent of public instruction, Jack O'Connell doesn't want to diminish the worth of a HS diploma but taking those and other steps; I thought he was on the other side, so perhaps, as unlikely as it sounds, there's something the LAT isn't telling us.
The details of the exam get even worse:
Students get several opportunities to pass the exam in high school, and they have to correctly answer only a little more than half of the questions to succeed.As you might expect, the socialists in Sacramento have jumped into the breach, passing legislation that would allow the portfolio of work to be used in place of the exam. Arnold has not announced if he intends to veto it, but he should.
And, since many of those who can't pass the exam are illegal aliens, and since those illegal aliens also have an impact on class sizes and other resources, he should do whatever he has to to make sure that the federal government does their job regarding illegal immigration.
Posted at 10:33 PM | Comments (2)
Video of the California Teacher's Association thuggery
There's video, audio and statements about the incident here.
Previously: "30,000 public school teachers in California are not CTA members".
Posted at 04:25 PM | Comments (0)
30,000 public school teachers in California are not CTA members
As previously discussed, Union thugs shout down teachers suing over union electioneering.
The SacBee discusses that press conference in "Suit challenges union fundraising bid", which contains this interesting bit:
About 30,000 public school teachers in California have chosen to not join the CTA and instead are listed as "agency fee payers" rather than union members. Fee payers are still charged to support the union for its contract bargaining function, but they are not assessed any charges to help finance the CTA's political goals.
I was unable to find out how many total public school teachers there are in CA, but 30,000 sounds like it would be a good percentage of them.
Posted at 02:12 PM | Comments (1)
Governor Bill Clinton... of California?
This rumor mill site says that sources say that someone else says that their sources heard from someone else that major donors (probably including George Soros) are encouraging "Bubba" Bill Clinton to run for governor of California.
"On first blush, it might sound nuts" they quote a Democratic strategist. It sounds the same way on second, third, and subsequent blushes too.
Other possibilities mentioned include: Magic Johnson, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and Rob Reiner. Only the last played a character named "Meathead", although all four are meatheads.
Posted at 06:08 AM | Comments (2)
Union thugs shout down teachers suing over union electioneering
The National Right to Work Foundation has filed a lawsuit on behalf of six teachers and professors against the California Teachers Association. The suit concerns a $60 fee that the union is charging them in each of the next three years. That money is being used to mount the CTA's campaign against Arnold Schwarzenegger's Propositions 74, 75 and 76.
The NRWF held the press conference outside the union's office.
One hundred teachers and others succeeded in shouting them down and drowning out the press conference: screaming "Shame on you" over and over.
Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks says:
"This is an example of the kind of intimidation, bullying and thuggery that our public school teachers are enduring (from the union) every day"
They're seeking class action status for the suit.
Posted at 06:53 PM | Comments (1)
Arnold: Bush always welcome in California, but...
Arnold Schwarzenegger wants George Bush to avoid fundraising in California until after the special election. I'm sure there's the matter of only so many donations to go around, but I'm sure that Arnold is also able to read polls.
Posted at 05:29 PM | Comments (1)
Phil Angelides for Governor, Part 1
Welcome to the first edition of our coverage of Phil Angelides' attempt to be Governor of California. We'll be highlighting his accomplishments and his goals.
In today's news, he's just received an endorsement from Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez.
And, in a flashback to last year, in June he toured campuses of California universities to complain about fee hikes. His companions included... Arianna Huffington and Randy Jackson from American Idol.
Posted at 02:06 PM | Comments (0)
Bill would prevent illegal aliens' cars from being impounded
Our "American" legislators in Sacramento continue thinking up creative new ways to give rights to illegal aliens. Consider, for instance, a bill from Assemblyman Alberto Torrico, D-Fremont that's now sitting on Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk:
The bill requires the police to return vehicles to their registered owners who present a valid registration and driver's license. So if police stop a joyriding teenager or an illegal immigrant who is borrowing a friend's car, they cannot impound the vehicle if the owner shows up with a valid license, as they can under current law.
Gil Cedillo and other supporters of driver's licenses for illegal aliens continue to attempt to insult people's intelligence by saying those bills are for public safety. Likewise:
"The bill is intended to address situations where basically the licensed owner is unfairly punished because of the actions of someone else, perhaps a minor child in the family, someone who steals a car or takes it for a joy ride," said Sam Delson, a Torrico aide. "The licensed owner under current law faces a severe penalty."
Arnold hasn't made his feelings clear, but we're informed that the following have asked him to veto it:
California Highway Patrol Commissioner M.L. Brown, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca; the San Fernando Valley Traffic Advisory Council; and San Fernando Police Chief Anthony Alba.
A similar bill from Cedillo is still pending in the legislature.
Posted at 01:58 PM | Comments (0)
CSU Monterey Bay: Marxist boot camp
There's a long article here on California State University Monterey Bay. The author is disgruntled former professor there, but it doesn't exactly sound like such a wholesome American place.
CSUMB could as easily have been named CSU-Affirmative Action. CSUMB is unique among American state colleges in that it was conceived as an Affirmative Action university and officially oriented as an institution of leftist political indoctrination... Students must also fulfill the "Community Participation" (formerly "Service Learning") ULR...
A "ULR" is a "University Learning Requirement". In case you think the author is overselling this, here's how CSUMB defines the ULRs:
These ULRs will give you deep multicultural and community awareness and a broad knowledge base.
OK, I'm game. Let's look at the "Culture and Equity ULR":
The Culture and Equity ULR requires you to comprehend your individual cultural identity in relationship to other cultures and lifestyles, and to demonstrate critical awareness of power relationships as well as the means for creating greater equity and social justice.
Hmmmm.... Do Californians know about this?
What about the "Democratic Participation ULR":
The Democratic Participation ULR requires you to use the tools of political action in a political project.
Obviously, there's a very good chance that the vast majority of those projects will be left-wing. Moreover, those projects that are not left-wing will probably be discouraged or downgraded in some way.
OK, continuing our tour with the "Creative and Artistic Expression ULR":
The Creative and Artistic Expression ULR requires you to produce works of art that communicate to diverse audiences through demonstrated understanding and fluency of expressive forms. Through your works of art you must show that you comprehend the significance and expression of culture in a variety of ways. Each Creative and Artistic Expression ULR course imparts thorough knowledge of the given discipline and offers you the opportunity to develop creatively through engaged and reflective work.
In short, CSUMB looks like CSU Basket Weaving for Far-Lefties. The idea that we'd spend money on Indoctrination U. is not very comforting at all.
Please contact your representatives and urge them to look in to this school.
Posted at 08:58 AM | Comments (1)
Schwarzenegger supports levee repair, wants fed money
Details here.Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday joined Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, and other federal lawmakers in urging Congress to help California repair its aging system of levees.Mmmm... smells like pork. While the money would be nice and is probably needed, it would probably be better not to encourage Katrina bills to be bloated with off-topic stuff.
Schwarzenegger, who is expected to announce today his bid for a full term as governor, wants an additional $90 million for levee repairs from a federal government that has a history of failing to show California the money...
[...century-old earthen levees need to be repaired...]
The money Schwarzenegger is asking for represents a down payment on a $2 billion repair bill -- what the state Department of Water Resources has estimated a complete overhaul would cost.
Schwarzenegger's letter outlines 10 critical repair projects, most of which are in the Sacramento Valley, to get the $90 million. Raising Folsom Dam would get the most cash, at $24 million.
A massive Department of Water Resources study mapping weaknesses in the Delta's levees would get $3 million.
State Resources Agency Secretary Mike Chrisman said officials are hopeful they can convince Congress to include the money in a special flood-relief bill intended to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina...
Posted at 11:46 AM | Comments (0)
Schwarzenegger to run again; will he face the iPod candidate?
The Los Angeles Dog Trainer-Enquirer-Times announces that "Schwarzenegger All But Declares Reelection Bid" and that fine paper has no doubt already prepared itself to act once again as little more than a mouthpiece for the Democratic candidate....Speaking at a special election campaign event in this Central Valley town near Fresno, Schwarzenegger was asked by an audience member if Californians would get "a chance to vote for you again."So, who - other than unknown political wonks - might he run against?
The governor then revealed what his campaign staff had been hinting for several days: "I'm going to make an official announcement on Friday, this Friday. I believe very strongly in follow-through. Follow-through is the most important thing. If you start something, you've got to finish it."
The San Francisco Chronicle said comedian Robin Williams and actor Warren Beatty are on the list of possibilities being discussed in Democratic circles.We've already had Governor Moonbeam, how about Governor iPod? I don't know which of those fine choices would be best, they're all quite terrific.
The list also includes San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, former White House chief of staff Leon Panetta and business executive Steve Jobs, the Chronicle said -- but none of those mentioned has said anything publicly about making the race.
Posted at 12:09 PM | Comments (0)
Gavin Newsom to citizens: you're on your own
Shocking news out of Frisco. Mayor Gavin Newsom has informed his subjects that in the case of a natural disaster or terrorist attack, they should be prepared to be on their own for up to 72 hours.
At a press conference, he uttered:
"If Hurricane Katrina didn't prove it to you, I don't know what will... I'm not waiting, in the event of an emergency, for Air Force One."
But, isn't the government supposed to take care of us? Shouldn't we expect help within a few hours?
Apparently not to the mean-spirited anti-human mayor of Frisco, who also informs us that he's created a web site to promulgate his near-Rethuglican views: 72hours.org. It has lots of tips on those 72 hours, including creating a series of "Go Bags" containing necessities. (On DU, those are called "Bug Out Bags" and contain Canadian-American dictionaries.)
But, wait, it gets worse:
The city also is running an advertising campaign focusing on what's "nice to have" versus what you "need to have" in your home or car. One poster features sushi as "nice to have," but canned tuna and a can opener as a "need to have."
Posted at 02:38 AM | Comments (0)
Is California ready for a levee break?
The SacBee wants to know:"Even the most thorough planning will be defeated somewhere," said Jeffrey Mount, a state Reclamation Board member. "You expect to have failures, you expect to have surprises, but not total, complete breakdown."I've "climbed" the highest point in Sacramento County, all 828' of it. IIRC the area has some rolling hills, but it's more or less the flatlands.
The Central Valley, while as much in danger's path as New Orleans, is closer to higher ground and has more escape routes, said Mount, a geology professor who has written a book about California's rivers.
It also has had practice. More than 120,000 fled high water in Yuba and Sutter counties in 1997, in what state disaster officials believe probably stands as California's largest evacuation.
The region also drills and plans with a sometimes ruthless precision for the bigger disasters that it so far has escaped.
Yolo County, for example, has a contractor ready to send forklifts to each side of the Yolo Causeway to keep traffic flowing during a mass evacuation. Their sole mission: Lift up any stalled car and drop it off Interstate 80 into the waters below.
In other ways, preparations still are fumbling. While census figures show about 51,000 people in the city of Sacramento alone live in households with no car, no one knows if they're clustered on high ground or low, and no one has planned how best to get them aboard buses...
Carole Hopwood, Sacramento County's emergency manager, has agreements in place that let her call on all Regional Transit buses to get people out, but so far her grasp of the details is sketchy...Much more at the link.
Posted at 06:35 AM | Comments (0)
"Levee monitoring sinks in Legislature"
I'm not familiar with the upsides and downsides of this bill. If it wasn't passed by our legislators in Sacramento, that probably means there's something good about it. But, it's also supported by the Sierra Club, meaning there's probably something wrong with it. Nonetheless:A bill that some called a "baby steps" effort to deal with California's colossal flood risks did not pass out of the Legislature this week, prompting concern that there is little appetite to deal with the messy, expensive problem of neglected levees.
Images of a submerged New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina helped revive the bill from a months-long slumber. But those pictures of death and despair did not prompt enough votes in the state Senate to bring the bill forward as an urgency measure before the session closed Thursday night.
The bill, AB 1665 by Assemblyman John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, would have renamed the state Reclamation Board as the Central Valley Flood Management Board. It would have assigned the board the task of assessing 1,600 miles of aging levees on the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers, mapping flood-hazard areas on those rivers, and annually notifying property owners in those hazard zones.
The bill was sponsored by the state Department of Water Resources...
"Even with any urgency that may have happened with Katrina and the levees in New Orleans, trying to do anything ambitious is really hard," said Jim Metropulos, a legislative analyst for the Sierra Club, which supported the bill. "Flood issues get to be very contentious."
..."We think it was a very modest effort," said Mike Hardesty, president of the California Central Valley Flood Control Association, which represents 80 levee maintenance districts...
Posted at 07:52 AM | Comments (0)
81% of Californians extremely or somewhat concerned about illegal immigration
A Field Poll of registered California voters reveals that:
49% are "extremely" concerned about illegal immigration...
32% are "somewhat" concerned about illegal immigration...
And, asked if Arnold should declare a "border emergency", these percentages said yes:
44% overall
62% among Republicans
35% of Latinos
On the downside, 56 percent oppose civilian border patrols, and 41% support. However, support grows the closer to the border you get.
And, many more might support a California border patrol.
Posted at 02:35 PM | Comments (1)
CA Dems reject Arnold's choice for DMV head; what's it mean?
The far-lefties in the California legislature have rejected Arnold Schwarzenegger's choice to be head of the DMV, Joan Borucki.Given their continued attempt to give California ID to citizens of Mexico and other countries, one wonders exactly what's going on here.
Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, said the nominee, Joan Borucki, had had a "very solid career with the state of California."So, they want someone to make sure we're safe... as they give legal IDs to illegal aliens.
"(But) this is not a job for a bureaucrat," he added. "This is a job for a political leader ... someone who knows how to marshal forces of political clout to make sure we are safe."
Schwarzenegger's press secretary, Margita Thompson, accused Democrats of rejecting Borucki because of Schwarzenegger's refusal so far to sign a bill allowing illegal immigrants to get driver's licenses. Borucki also is a Democrat.Maybe someone who's more familiar with this issue can weigh in with what this means. Do the Dems have their own candidate? And, is he related to Vicente Fox?
"The Democratic legislators are going to have to explain why they took out a competent, Democratic ... director purely because they are focused on getting this driver's license bill for undocumented workers," Thompson said. "It's a prime example of Democratic lawmakers playing politics as opposed to focusing on good public policy."
Posted at 06:37 AM | Comments (0)
MALDEF, League of Women Voters, Asian-Pacific American Legal Center ripped new ones over Proposition 77
Well. CalInsider smacks some loony lefties upside the head:This position paper [PDF file] out today from three groups that claim to represent the interests of women and minorities gives their reasons for opposing Proposition 77, the redistricting reform initiative...
Some day we will outgrow the notion that we need to draw political boundaries that pack members of particular ethnic groups together under the repugnant assumption that the color of your skin or the shape of your eyes dictates how you think about public policy...
The truth is that the real opponents of 77 are the far left and the far right who want to maintain their grip on power in the California Legislature and protect the ability of incumbents to pick their voters rather than letting voters pick their politicians. Maldef, the League of Women Voters and the Asian-Pacific American Legal Center are aiding and abetting that plot by their opposition to this measure.
If 77 goes down, don't hold your breath waiting for the League's friends in the Legislature to propose the perfect reform these groups say they would support.
Posted at 11:29 PM | Comments (2)
Hugh Hewitt on CA's 48th district
A favorite BushBot, Hugh Hewitt, has a column entitled "Kiss of Death" about the 48th District race in Orange County. It starts out like this:IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, John McCain teamed with Ted Kennedy to propose a new bill to "solve" the illegal immigration problem. The McCain-Kennedy bill was DOA with Republicans in the House and the Senate.Since the article is not just about the 48th District but about immigration "reform" as well, it's a bit surprising that Hugh doesn't mention another candidate in the race: Jim Gilchrist. Not even once, not even in passing. Of course, Gilchrist probably has no chance, and, according to a local blog which wants to turn that district "blue", might even serve as the spoiler in the race. Nevertheless, it's informative that Hugh can't even mention someone who dares to challenge Our Leader's immigration policies.
Which may explain why Senator McCain has endorsed Marilyn Brewer in the special election to replace former Congressman Chris Cox (who has been confirmed as the new chair of the SEC) in California's 48th Congressional District. McCain wants to push through a liberalization of the immigration law and he needs some help in the House. Brewer, a pro-abortion rights Republican, has no other GOP figure of note endorsing her. It looks like a match made in heaven. McCain can count on Brewer being soft on the border. Brewer can count on McCain being soft on life issues.
Except for the fact that Republicans of all political stripes, from the centrist Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to the conservative Congressmen Dana Rohrabacher and Ed Royce, have endorsed GOP State Senator John Campbell in the October 4 balloting. The entire party has unified behind Campbell (including me--full disclosure, I contributed to Campbell's campaign). Brewer hasn't even gotten the endorsement of the liberal "New Majority" Republicans who gently support abortion rights. The Club for Growth is behind Campbell, and he will almost certainly win the primary in a walk. He may well even garner 50 percent of the votes, which would prevent a costly second round of balloting in the coastal Orange County district...
Posted at 01:29 PM | Comments (0)
Is Fabian Nunez an American, a Mexican, or a little bit of both?
Fabian Nunez is the Speaker of the California Assembly, and he's returned from a four-day trip to Mexico designed to smooth over our troubled relations with that fine country. Unfortunately, based not just on this trip but on his entire career, I'm a little bit confused over which country he actually represents. Does he represent America, or does he at least partially represent Mexican interests?Needless to say, Nunez is a Democrat. While the GOP has its share of crazies and corrupt politicians, I can't think of any elected Republican who appears to have divided loyalties with another country.
The latest report on the California legislator's trip is in "Nunez: Bush 'Turned His Back' on Mexico":
...[He said:] "I don't believe that they've shown this administration (of Fox) the respect it deserves and I don't think that as (Fox's) term draws to a close he's going to be given the respect that he didn't receive earlier..."But, wouldn't that tend to increase Mexican influence in this state? Is that good for California and the U.S.?
Nunez said that he would push for modifications in California law so that Mexican businessmen would find it easier to invest in the state...
He criticized Bush's lack of support for the immigration reform bill sponsored by Republican Sen. John McCain and Democrat Ted Kennedy, which allows family unification, reduces the number of pending immigration cases and sets up an immigration status legalization program - but does not provide amnesty - for those who entered the country illegally...Obviously, by playing the race card he's trying to stifle any form of intelligent and honest debate. And, he's also doing it in Mexico, spreading false information to our "friends" to the south. (This is vaguely reminiscent of a trip by Nancy Pelosi to that country, in which she accused the government for which she works - and to which she presumably has some degree of allegiance - of terrorizing people.)
In his judgment, one of the main problems between the two national governments is on U.S. immigration policy, which "has allowed racial prejudices to enter" into the matter, something that has made an "intelligent, honest" dialogue impossible...
In actual fact, most of the legal and almost all of the illegal immigrants to the U.S. over the past several decades have come from Hispanic countries. If anything, there's a Hispanic bias in our immigration system.
As part of that intelligent and honest debate, perhaps we should take a close look at that bias. If most Mexicans think the U.S. southwest rightfully belongs to Mexico, is it wise to allow them to settle the U.S. southwest? And, do we really want to give the corrupt oligarchies that rule many Central and Southern American countries even more power over our country's policies? Do we really want to allow in people who cheer for the "narcos"?
Given the choice between someone who wants to come here to be a full-fledged American, and someone who is just coming here to make money and doesn't respect our laws or our way of life and who has divided loyalties, which should we choose? To many "liberals", the second would appear to be the choice they prefer. (In the cases where a quest for racial power or for far-left ideology aren't involved, that would seem to be psychological: they appreciate the challenge, plus it makes them feel better.)
Regarding the California governor, Nunez said, "He has said things that have insulted not only the government, but also the people of Mexico," adding that the continual friction has not allowed the development of the bonds that should exist between neighbors, particularly considering the fact that Mexico is California's largest foreign trade partner.At least we're doing one thing right then.
"Instead of militarizing the border, he should seek ways to cooperate with Mexico" and increase collaboration in technology and intelligence, the California lawmaker said.
The problem, he emphasized, is that the United States "has no confidence (in Mexico) and doesn't treat it like a modern democracy."
If the Dems were smart, they'd purge people like Nunez from their ranks, suggesting that they join the Greens or the Peace and Freedom Party instead. Otherwise, people will continue to think of the Dems as just a lunatic, un-American party.
Previously:
Mexican business leaders feeling unwanted, unloved
Should Fabian Nunez stay in Mexico?
Fabian Nunez, California Democrat, kisses up to Vicente Fox
See also this deja vu report of a 1999 trip by Mexico's president to meet with Antonio Villaraigosa and Gray Davis. The latter was, of course, recalled. Perhaps a similar effort should be mounted in the case of Nunez, Gil Cedillo, and other "American" politicians.
Posted at 06:16 PM | Comments (2)
Mexican business leaders feeling unwanted, unloved
From "Mexican execs tell Nunez they feel rejected by state":Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez said Mexican business executives told him yesterday they feel "totally rejected" by California political leaders, a contrast to their warm relations with Texas officials.All together: Awwwwwwww.
After a private meeting with a dozen business leaders here, the Los Angeles Democrat said executives regard the current wave of "anti-immigrant hysteria" in California as an affront to them...
And, from "Nunez Trip Hits Heavy Resistance":
...[Mexican-"American" politican Fabian Nunez] worked with a local public relations man to spread his message to as many people as possible: that immigrants were a precious California resource and that the two nations must work together to protect their future...Wouldn't it be nice not to have to deal with this issue? Under any of the immigration "reform" programs, isn't it just going to get worse? Aren't our "amigos" to the south just going to make more and more demands?
Even worse, Mexicans here say, was the speaker's insistence that Schwarzenegger — who this spring praised the "Minuteman" campaign along the U.S.-Mexico border — was a caring person.
"Where does this guy stand?" asked Ulises Canchola Gutierrez, a foreign ministry official. "He supports a state of emergency. He says Arnold is not so bad. I'm confused."
...His call last week for Schwarzenegger to declare a state of emergency was seen in California as putting pressure on the Bush administration to acknowledge the steep costs shouldered by border states. Similar declarations this month by New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano made headlines and freed up about $2 million.
Here, it was interpreted as another slap in the face...
"I don't believe he is anti-Mexican, or anti-immigrant," said Nunez, leaving many scratching their heads. Schwarzenegger is seen as favoring a sealed border, a position that is widely interpreted here as anti-Mexican...
"It is important that we need to protect the border," he said. "Not militarize it, protect it."
It was the sort of tempered liberalism that would normally draw applause from Latino audiences in California...
For the sake of this country, we need to just back away slowly from this whole mess. We can't afford to get even more entangled with a country that obviously has no respect for our laws. If Mexico's leaders won't reform themselves, then we need to just build a wall.
Posted at 07:22 AM | Comments (1)
Should Fabian Nunez stay in Mexico?
Honestly: wouldn't it be best for both countries if California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez would just stay in Mexico? He seems to be having so much fun on his vacation it's a shame it has to end. John Rice of the AP reports:Fabian Nunez could hardly stop grinning. The speaker of the California Assembly sat shoulder to shoulder with some of Mexico's political elite on Friday before an exuberantly friendly audience of thousands...It sounds like they could really use someone with Nunez' energy and political skills there. And, since we don't need people here who have divided loyalties, it would be a win-win.
Nunez, who spent most of the first seven years of his life in Tijuana, joined those around him in crossing his hand across his chest in salute as the Mexican flag arrived with a children's honor guard...
Nunez said migrants had helped make California one of the world's great economic powers, "yet the gap between the poor and the rich grows greater and greater, the racism against immigrant workers continues."
He also denounced civilian immigrant hunter groups such as the Minutemen, saying they "try to deny our humanity and our dignity."
Nunez avoided reference to Mexican political issues, but praised the leadership of the union's chief, Heladio Ramirez, who is a key figure in the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, that ran Mexico for 71 years before losing to opposition candidate Vicente Fox in 2000.
The farm union itself has been a key part of the PRI for decades.
Ramirez, meanwhile, decried poverty in the countryside that he said was driving Mexicans across the border.
"That, comrades, is a national disgrace," Ramirez said. "It's humiliating that we are exporting poor Mexicans in the worst conditions so that they can achieve elsewhere what we deny them here."
Previously: "Fabian Nunez, California Democrat, kisses up to Vicente Fox".
Regarding the part in red above, please send your thoughts to: readers.rep@uniontrib.com and feedback@ap.org.
UPDATE: From the mind-bendingly titled "In Mexico, Nunez is forced to explain border comments" come these mind-bending quotes:
"It seems as though there is a sense that people want to close the border," Nunez said Fox told him. "I assured him that that wasn't the case, and I think he accepted my response to that."The fact that he's "succeeded" shows that there are a lot of reality-denying cowards in the media, but we already knew that.
...[Nunez said:] "Many of these Democratic leaders traditionally are aligned with the Mexican people and have been very supportive of the contributions of undocumented immigrants in particular..."
"I always thought that the biggest criticism I would get is 'Here is this Mexican-American leader of California going to Mexico. Where's his allegiance – to Mexico or the U.S.?' " Núñez said.
"I think I have succeeded," he said. "The fact that that criticism hasn't been made shows that we have made a lot of progress."
Posted at 08:45 PM | Comments (1)
Fabian Nunez, California Democrat, kisses up to Vicente Fox
Fabian Nunez, Democrat and Speaker of the California Assembly visited Mexico yesterday to speak to...the speaker said the emergency decree was a matter "between the states and the Bush administration" meant to seek resources to solve border region problems.Because, as we know, Mexico plays no role in our problems with massive illegal immigration. Despite his obsequiousness, Nunez was partially in the doghouse: the meeting wasn't on Fox's official schedule. Whether he kissed Fox's ring is not disclosed.
"In no way does it seek to attack or place blame on the back of Mexico," said Nunez, a Los Angeles Democrat...
State Republican officials said Nunez's trip was orchestrated to woo Hispanic voters ahead of the Nov. 8 election...Wait... I though Nunez at least pretends to be an American? Why should a visit to a foreign country do an American politician any good?
On arrival at Mexico City airport, Nunez, who lived in Mexico until age 7, said enforcement of immigration law "has to be done with respect and dignity." He said "California depends on Mexican labor" and endorsed the idea of legalizing many of those now working illegally...On that note, see "Senators Hollingsworth and Morrow and Assemblymen Haynes and Wyland Unveil Illegal Immigration Proposal":
...Schwarzenegger said there was no need for [a border emergency] declaration. He also said state law allows him to declare emergencies only in case of war, natural disasters or epidemics.
In a letter he sent to Nunez on Wednesday, Schwarzenegger said the law was intended to protect health, safety, life and property in extreme circumstances...
The proposed legislation addresses these concerns by giving the Governor the explicit authority to call a state of emergency in regards to illegal immigration. Should the Governor declare a state of emergency, it allows for greater coordination and for the use of personnel and resources to address the problem.
Posted at 08:50 AM | Comments (1)
Mark Skeen: fighting fire with backing out of interview
Mark Skeen is the executive vice president of the San Jose Fire Fighters Union. He also appears in an anti-Arnold Schwarzenegger ad, but he's only identified (AFAIK) as a firefighter, and not as a union executive.
The TV commercial is one of the sleazy ads that discusses a remark from an Arnold ad:
In the latest such call, a few days ago, Schwarzenegger's media expert, Don Sipple, outlined a strategy "based on a lot of polling" to create a "phenomenon of anger" among voters toward public employee unions. Firefighters, police officers, teachers and other state-paid workers have become the governor's harshest critics this year.
The ad makes it sound like Sipple wanted to target individual union members, not the unions themselves and their leadership. Now, John Ziegler of KFI reports that Skeen had agreed to appear on his show and then backed out...
Posted at 04:47 PM | Comments (0)
CA Dem Party supports lowering voting age to 17
From the site of the Orange County chapter of the National Youth Rights Association comes this tidbit:
Late last month, members of the newly formed NYRA-OC traveled to Sacramento where, joined by members of the Berkeley chapter, they convinced the Executive Board of the California Democratic Party to unanimously call for the lowering of the voting age in California to 17... The lowering of the voting age honors our servicemen and servicewomen. More than 300 Americans who have died in Iraq were two young to vote for President at the time of the last presidential election before their deaths. Lowering the voting age would be a nice tribute in their memory... The NYRA-OC calls on Americans to join the 21st century and to be inclusive. Until everyone gets the vote, no one is free.
Aww, aren't they cute? Of course, as I've pointed out before, pushes like this get support from California Democrats because of race-based reasons: most of those new young voters would be Hispanic and those Hispanic politicians correctly believe that they'll tend to vote with their race. In other words, whether the teenagers who are pushing this realize it or (more likely) not, they're being used for racial reasons.
Some might think the idea of the voting age reduction is just a radical Berkeley idea, but what they don’t know is that this idea is not confined to Berkeley alone. Recently, New York City Councilmember Gale Brewer introduced a bill to lower the city’s voting age to 16. There is currently a bill in the Washington state legislature to lower the voting age to 16. Right now, ACA17 is a bill in the California State Assembly to allow 17-year-olds, who will be 18 by the time of the general election, to vote in the primary election. This is not a novel idea, as several other states practice this, including Maine and Maryland. In fact, the Democratic Party of California as well as the League of Women voters supports this bill. Recently, as a result of the efforts of Berkeley’s National Youth Rights Association, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 8-2 to support the right of localities to set a lower voting age.
Previously: "Proposal to Let 14-Year-Olds Vote Clears First Legislative Hurdle".
Posted at 06:16 AM | Comments (0)
Redistricting back on the ballot
CA Supremes voted 4-2 in favor. Developing...
UPDATE: See "Supreme Court allows redistricting initiative on November ballot" for the details.
Posted at 05:04 PM | Comments (0)
Proposition 77: both versions side-by-side
As previously discussed, a Superior Court judge has ordered that Prop. 77 be removed from the ballot, based on a suit brought by Attorney General Bill Lockyer.
Based on the comparison provided by the LAT, here are the two versions side-by-side. Note that this is just from one section; what differences there are between other sections is not known:
| Version Lockyer got | Version that got 950,000 petition signatures |
|---|---|
| Our Legislature should be responsive to the demands of the voters, but existing law places the power to draw the very districts, in which legislators are elected, in the hands of incumbent state legislators, who then choose their voters, which is a conflict of interest. | Our Legislature should be responsive to the demands of the citizens of the State of California, and not the self-interests of individual legislators or the partisan interests of political parties. |
| The Legislature's self-interest in drawing its members' districts has resulted in partisan gerrymandering, uncompetitive districts, ideological polarization, and a growing division between the interests of the People of California and their elected representatives. | Self-interest and partisan gerrymandering have resulted in uncompetitive districts, ideological polarizations in our institutions of representative democracy, and a disconnect between the interests of the People of California and their elected representatives. |
| The redistricting plans adopted by the California Legislature in 2001 produced an unprecedented number of uncompetitive districts, serve incumbents and not the People, and are repugnant to the People. The gerrymandered districts of 2001 resulted in not a single change in the partisan composition of the California Legislature or the California congressional delegation in the 2004 elections. These districts should be replaced as soon as possible and never used again. | The redistricting plans adopted by the California Legislature in 2001 serve incumbents, not the People, are repugnant to the People and are in direct opposition to the People's interest in fair and competitive elections. They should not be used again. |
| The experience of the 1970's and 1990's demonstrates that impartial special masters, who are retired judges independent of partisan politics and the Legislature, can draw fair and competitive districts by virtue of their judicial training and judicial temperament. | [removed] |
| We demand that our representative system of government assure that the voters choose their representatives, rather than their representatives choose their voters, that it be open to public scrutiny and free of conflicts of interest, and that the system embody the principle that government derives its power from the consent of the governed. Therefore, the People of the State of California hereby adopt the "Redistricting Reform: The Voter Empowerment Act." | We demand that our representative system of government be fair to all, open to public scrutiny, free of conflicts of interest, and dedicated to the principle that government derives its power from the consent of the governed. Therefore, the People of the State of California hereby adopt the "Redistricting Reform: The Voter Empowerment Act." |
UPDATE: I made it clear that this is just from one section.
Posted at 03:12 PM | Comments (2)
Schwarzenegger redistricting measure proposition 77: off the ballot
A Superior Court judge has ordered Arnold Schwarzenegger's redistricting measure (Proposition 77) to be removed from the ballot. Arnold may appeal.The given reason is that there were differences between two versions of the measure used in the run up to it being placed on the ballot, and the judge says that this is a substantial issue and not just a technicality:
Attorney General Bill Lockyer asked the judge to order the measure off the ballot because its supporters used two versions - one to gather voter signatures and another that they gave to him to prepare a title and summary of the proposal to use on petitions.To show you just how far out to space Lockyer - and perhaps the judge - are, the Los Angeles Times thinks Prop. 77 should be on the ballot.
Daniel Kolkey, an attorney representing the measure's author - Ted Costa - argued that the differences between the two versions were minor and mostly stylistic and due to a clerical error.
Yes, that's right, the Los Angeles Times. As they pointed out in "Prop. 77: No harm, no foul":
...the initiative required 598,105 valid petition signatures of registered voters to get on the ballot. In fact, the Costa campaign submitted 950,000 signatures. The problem is that the version submitted to Lockyer and the one circulated by petition-gatherers had different wording. A clerk gave the wrong copy to Lockyer, sponsors said. They called the differences stylistic and not of real substance.UPDATE: The differences are highlighted here. There are a large number of differences, but I don't consider them overly substantial. Obviously, there should never have been two versions in the first place. I've created a table with the two versions here.
Not so, argued Lockyer in suing Secretary of State Bruce McPherson to keep the measure off the ballot. The use of different petitions "cannot be condoned or tolerated," Lockyer argued, saying it could lead to bait-and-switch tactics someday. He's right, and officials need to guard against that possibility in the future. But there was no attempt to mislead signers in this case. The version of Proposition 77 on the petition signed by registered voters is the same as the one on the ballot...
Posted at 07:00 PM | Comments (1)
Memo to Dan Walters: there's more to it than just the illegal aliens
Dan Walters has a rather unremarkable column entitled "Debate over immigration never ends" that roundsup the attempts by Americans to end illegal immigration, and the attempts by those on the other side to encourage more of it.It includes the following:
To many, illegal immigrants are simply human beings seeking to better themselves by filling difficult, low-paying jobs in agriculture, construction, restaurants and hotels that are vital to the economy. But to others, they are law-breaking invaders who drain the public treasury and whose ability to gain entry into California should not be rewarded.It's not just about the illegal aliens themselves. It's also about employers making money off illegal immigration, political corruption, ethnic nationalism, legislators with obviously divided loyalties, and so on. Oddly enough, he doesn't acknowledge any of those issues.
And:
Last weekend, the immigration fires were rekindled when a handful of self-named California Minutemen began patrolling the border with Mexico, supposedly to help the Border Patrol spot illegal immigrants, but in reality to draw media attention and stir up opposition to illegal immigration.Now, read this. If the reports of the activities of the other side at Campo are any indication, the only surprise is that they weren't wearing white sheets. Strangely, that's not mentioned either.
The Minutemen likened themselves to a Neighborhood Watch but some apparently were armed and they attracted, as expected, denunciations from Latino rights groups, which branded them as vigilantes.
Posted at 01:20 PM | Comments (2)
Fire Dreier! And, Fire Jerry Lewis! too
No, not one of my favorite (no, really) comics, but Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands). He voted against a bill that would have tied foreign aid to Mexico to them extraditing cop killers who've fled to that country.Details of yesterday's protest in "Group wants Lewis ousted":
Holding posters and waving large and small American flags, a small group lined the sidewalk Tuesday near Rep. Jerry Lewis' district office, exhorting the public to vote him out.Apparently they've "opened a dialogue" with Lewis' Deputy Chief of Staff. Note that Rep. David Dreier also voted against the bill.
What prompted the 25 to gather in the muggy 101-degree heat at Brookside Avenue and San Mateo Street is legislation to cut off financial aid to countries refusing to extradite suspected U.S. cop killers who fled to their shores...
The article references, but doesn't give the URL for, an anti-Lewis site. It's the aptly titled FireJerryLewis.com.
Posted at 02:37 PM | Comments (0)
However could we pay for a California Border Patrol?
The bill that would have created a California Border Patrol didn't make it out of the Assembly Judiciary Committee.Apparently the members of that committee simply ignored the arguments that the federal government would allow California to create such a force, instead relying on outdated laws and cases.
From "Curbs on illegal immigration fail":
Opponents said both measures raised constitutional questions, that they could actually increase state costs and that the two lawmakers should be complaining to President Bush about inadequate immigration enforcement...Well, gosh, if a Ford Foundation funded organization that supports illegal immigration says it's so, it must be so.
Opponents questioned where the deficit-plagued state would get the money to pay for the extra officers and said immigration police could jeopardize the relationship between local officers and immigrant communities.
"The solution is not to create a new border patrol," Francisco Estrada, director of public policy for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, told the committee.
What's needed instead, he said, is "comprehensive immigration reform" that would clear up a visa backlog and allow a legal immigrant work force...
As for where we'd get the money, well, gosh golly gee, I have no idea. Perhaps from the savings we'd enjoy by not having so many illegal aliens in the state? Could that - perhaps and maybe - be one possible way we'd pay for this? I'm no mathematical genius, but spending millions to save billions seems like it might work to me.
It'd be nice if one of these days some reporter somewhere would call these idiots on their BS.
Posted at 11:03 PM | Comments (0)
Former commies say the darnedest things!
Jim Sanders of the SacBee offers a profile of what might be California's leftiest assemblypersonage, Jackie Goldberg, entitled "Berkeley free-speech leader now speaks her mind in Assembly".
We learn many fun and interesting things from this profile:
- as a child, she appeared on Art Linkletter's "Art Linkletter's House Party" TV show which featured a "kids say the darnedest things" segment
- "[she] can cook a mean sweet-potato and short-rib tzimmes (stew)"
- she's a Trekkie and likes CSI
- she was "a leader in the 1960s Free Speech Movement at the University of California, Berkeley"
- she receives praise from, among others, "Dion Aroner, a Berkeley Democrat and former lawmaker who in college roomed with Goldberg at Delta Phi Epsilon sorority at UC Berkeley", Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, and Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach
- and:
Never shy about confrontation, Goldberg, a union supporter, was arrested for civil disobedience during the Free Speech Movement of the 1960s and several times since then, including five years ago, when she was taken into custody while protesting in support of striking Los Angeles janitors.
However, oddly and wackily enough, what we don't learn was covered in 1965's "Thirteenth Report of the Senate Fact-Finding Subcommittee on Un-American Activities--California":
...Jacqueline Goldberg, the sister of Arthur Goldberg, came from Los Angeles to attend the university at Berkeley. She soon became the head of U.C. Women for Peace, a front organization,and was its delegate to a Moscow meeting in 1963. She was also active in the American-Russian Institute at San Francisco, cited by the Attorney General of the United States as a Communist-dominated organization, and is now a member of the Policy Committee for the next World Communist Youth Festival which is scheduled to be held in Algeria. She was a member of both the executive and steering committees of FSM ["Free Speech Movement"], and was arrested during the invasion of Sproul Hall...
That wacky SacBee! I wonder if ombud *at* sacbee.com still works?
Previously:
Jackie Goldberg's "socialist" leanings
Jackie Goldberg, 200 page textbooks, and the Marxist dialectic
Posted at 12:30 PM | Comments (1)
Non-biased groups propose California redistricting reform
A coalition of groups - all of which are completely non-biased and are not left-wing groups by any stretch of the imagination - have proposed a "model bill" to serve as a replacement for the redistricting plan proposed by California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. AP report in "Groups propose model for redrawing legislative boundaries".
Under Arnold's plan a panel of three retired judges would redistrict in time for the 2006 elections, and their plan would be put to a vote.
In contrast, the proposal from the groups would have a nine member panel of retired judges, they would only redraw the lines after the 2010 census, and their efforts wouldn't be voted on.
According to Arnold's spokeswoman, "It's great that they are throwing out ideas." It certainly is, isn't it? I too thank them for their input.
As for who's pushing this plan, bear in mind they are completely non-partisan, non-biased groups without even a hint of a left-wing bias.
Groups include:
* The Center for Governmental Studies, "a nonpartisan research group in Los Angeles" per the AP. If that's not true, please leave a comment.
* Common Cause, which:
declares itself to be a non-partisan organization, but has been ardently outspoken against the Bush Administration on everything from the War in Iraq to the President's environmental policies. Recently, Common Cause joined forces with Moveon.org to "institute a complaint against Fox News . . . for deceptive practices in the advertising and marketing of the programming of Fox News Channel..."
* Asian Pacific American Legal Center (mentioned here as a left-wing group)
* League of Women Voters ("A leftwing organization that masks its support for radical agendas behind a veneer of non-partisanship...")
Bear in the front of your mind that the census includes illegal aliens. See "Under bill, illegals wouldn't count toward political clout" for a clue as to why these absolutely unbiased groups would support waiting for the next census.
Posted at 08:01 PM | Comments (0)
Jackie Goldberg, 200 page textbooks, and the Marxist dialectic
California Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg is the author of a bill that would limit "instructional materials" to be used in kindergarten through 8th grade to 200 pages in length or less. Yes, that's right, Sacramento now wants to micro-micro-manage the lives of Californians right down to the number of pages in textbooks. There's already a law - yes, a law - that restricts the weight of text books.Now, laughing at Jackie is certainly good fun and all, but the most pressing, nagging need for me is to know why the hell is she doing this? I mean, whatever she or the bill says, there's got to be something else going on. What is she after? It can't just be a desire to make students google for historical details and such. There's a start of speculation from a comment here:
...One can speculate on corruption (wiping out textbook contracts with some publishers, in favor of others) or ideological motives (wiping out use of some books in favor of new, more in-step books). If you simply take Goldberg at her word, she wants students to get more involved in the internet world, which of course abounds with all manner of, shall we say, eccentricity. It's one more way to attack parental authority over their kids...For more, see "Assembly sticks nose into textbooks", "A textbook case of stupidity", and this thread.
Leave your speculation in the comments. Best use of the phrases "Marxist dialectic" or "means of production" wins a red star.
Posted at 10:05 AM | Comments (0)
Debra Bowen disfavored by Kremlin, voted off Politburo committee
CA Sen. Debra Bowen (D-Marina del Rey) - a candidate for Secretary of State - was recently voted off California's Senate Appropriations Committee. By her fellow Democrats.
Why? Because she failed to blindly agree to spending millions of dollars. Apparently she spent six years getting information on what the Dems were freely spending on a day or two before. However, recently Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) demanded that others on the Committee sign on to her spending proposals sight unseen.
Bowen balked, and she was voted off the Committee by her fellow Dems, apparently lead by Migden and Don Perata (D-Oakland). Gritty details in "Bowen punished by her own party".
There is no word yet on whether she will be sent to Siberia, or whether she can be rehabilitated. A quick check revealed that she had not yet been airbrushed out of the Party photographs.
For more on Bowen, see "Texas bans hunting over Internet". See also "Don Peralta, Regency Outdoor in the news".
Note also that this could be a secret operation designed to disassociate Bowen from her fellow Dems in the minds of voters. Once she's elected to Sec'y of State, she could resume her Democratic ways. That's a remote possibility, but it needs to be considered.
Posted at 03:57 PM | Comments (0)
Just how worthless is the Democratic Party?
Worthless enough to try to pass a law forbidding Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's smoking tent. From the analysis of AB 616:Current law prohibits smoking within 20 feet of a main entrance or main exit of a state, county or city building. However, there is not a law governing outdoor areas, such as patios or courtyards within public buildings. This bill would prohibit a public employee or member of the public from smoking in an outdoor area enclosed on at least four sides by a state public building or buildings, excluding outdoor areas enclosed on at least four sides by a building or buildings on a CSU campus or a UC campus.The California Assembly recently voted 41-32 in favor, with all of those opposing being Republicans. From the SacBee:
Supporters said Assembly Bill 616 by Assemblyman Juan Vargas, D-San Diego, would eliminate wafting smoke from the tent, which they say seeps into office windows in the upper floors of the office building surrounding the courtyard. In some cases, supporters said, children visiting the Capitol are exposed to smoke - and the sight of a governor smoking...Needless to say, Arnold will veto this bill. How much time and money did these Democrats waste on a useless, childish gesture? It would be nice if Democrats in other states realized how much of an embarrassment their fellows in California are, and decided to step in and try to put adults in charge.
"We didn't do things this dumb in kindergarten," fumed Assemblyman Jay LaSuer, R-La Mesa. "But we weren't that devious in kindergarten."
Assemblyman Ray Haynes, R-Murrieta, noted that the state faces another budget deficit and a host of other problems, and "we're worried about whether or not the governor smokes cigars outside his office? Ladies and gentlemen, let's get serious."
Posted at 07:46 PM | Comments (0)
California's future not fully 100% doom and gloom
No, there is the fairly good possibility that things will not end in the complete meltdown of the state and it eventually physically separating itself from the mainland and being crushed by the Pacific, a new report reveals.
According to the Public Policy Institute of California's new report "California 2025: It's Your Choice", by that year we'll have 8 to 10 million more people living here, with a severly strained infrastructure to match:
...trends and forces are building that, left unchecked, could seriously erode the quality of life in California in the next two decades. The study concludes that is imperative for policymakers and others who influence policy in the state to begin asking some hard questions and making some well-informed, careful choices now...
The S.F. Chronical reports on this in "California's future is now, report says. Lawmakers, voters should address critical issues immediately in order to avoid crisis". The reader will note a few things strange about that report, most noteworthy being the concentration on how much can be spent. Perhaps the Chronical might one day considering asking, oh I dunno, whether we can continue to spread socialism to anyone who can come across the border.
The AP offers "Report: CA's PopulationTo Soar, Freeways Clogged" (same AP story here).
The PPIC report also stresses that California is well on its way to developing a fully two-tier social system, with a small moneyed class and a large number of poor people. Dan Walters of the SacBee wrote a column about that way back in 2001 entitled "New data prove that two-tier society is a fact of California life". It's pay-only, but here's a blurb:
Sixteen years ago, two academic researchers took note of the powerful economic and social forces that were just then beginning to sweep through California and made what many thought was a very bold, even risky, projection about the state. -- University of California, Davis, economist Philip Martin and Washington-based sociologist Leon Bouvier concluded in 1985 that with the state's population expanding dramatically due to immigration, and its economy shifting from old- style manufacturing to high technology and services, seeds were being sown for socioeconomic fragmentation...
Those who live in Los Angeles can see this themselves by, for just two examples, making the short drive from the more delapidated areas of Cypress Park up the hill to the houses on the top of Mount Washington, some of which must be priced at several hundreds of thousands of dollars. Alternatively, compare Wilshire and Normandie with 8th and Normandie, just two blocks away.
Posted at 01:40 PM | Comments (0)
Legislature pay raise: It's only a million and a half a year
The California Legislature was recently given a pay raise by an independent commission. Before each of our 120 reps was getting $99,000 per year. In the future, they might get $110,880 per year. That works out to just $1.44 million, a mere drop in the bucket.Now, as for that $70 million that Gov. Schwarzenegger wants to spend on a special election, that's real money, and it's right for the California Nurses Association to oppose that waste of money.
Continuing with the mockery:
In his speech before about 2,000 state business leaders, Schwarzenegger said he had been willing to consider the idea that legislators deserve a raise after seven years of no increases.
"So I sat down and started thinking about it," he said in a mocking voice, relating how former Gov. Pete Wilson, Davis' predecessor, left the state a surplus. "They have spent all of that money and they went and created a $22 billion debt. And They continue to spend more than we have. And they have chased businesses out of the state and jobs out of the state. They took the economy right down into the toilet and almost made the state go into bankruptcy.
"Yes, they deserve a raise! That's fair!" he said, drawing laughs from the crowd. "Under any normal circumstances, they would be fighting to keep their jobs, and keep their salaries."
Posted at 01:20 PM | Comments (0)
A dozen or so "nurses" hold pathetic anti-Arnold protest in Chicago
My title again! MSM report actually titled "Chicago Protesters Greet Gov. Schwarzenegger".
Schwarzenegger was in the city to attend a private fundraiserevent at the Chicago Hilton and Towers, but several local nurses protested outside the facility... The local nurses are supporting their California counterparts who say Schwarzenegger may try to privatize their pensions...
The reader is invited to try to count all of the nurses shown in these photographs. It looks to me like there were a dozen there, but some people might be able to spot one or two more.
I note also that all of them appear to be carrying the same printed sign. And, I wonder if it's entirely accurate to simply refer to them as "nurses." While the article does mention the American Nurses Association, wouldn't it be more accurate to describe them as nurses who are members of nurse's unions or of membership/lobbying groups like the ANA?
Note that the ANA is (I believe) affiliated with the California Nurses Association, which is working with the California Teachers Association on their anti-Arnold smears.
And, note that the ANA has 150,000 members and is only open to R.N.s, yet our own Census Bureau is eager to inform us that there are 2.4 million R.N.s in these United States.
Posted at 12:20 AM | Comments (2)
"Immigrants rally against Schwarzenegger"
The SB Sun family of newspapers reports on the anti-Arnold rally yesterday in which busloads of "immigrants" were brought to Sacramento to support illegal immigration.After the comments previously discussed and a few others of the same level demanding massive state benefits for all, we get this:
Schwarzenegger spokesman Vince Sollitto said in an interview afterward that Schwarzenegger, as an immigrant from Austria, understands the contributions immigrants have made to California and the nation.Obviously, the protestors and the organizers do not, prefering to place their ethnicity and their ethnic power base above those more generally American concerns.
But the governor also "appreciates the difference between legal and illegal immigration' and the need for "public safety and homeland security.'
Posted at 12:13 AM | Comments (0)
Anti-Schwarzenegger, anti-Minuteman screed noted
Domenico Maceri, an Italian immigrant and teacher of foreign languages at Allan Hancock College in Ventura County, offers us the charming guest editorial "Arnold plays politics with immigration". It hews to Template #3: "Arnold is attacking defenseless undocumented immigrants and stirring up hatred to become popular again." From the screed:The prejudice against undocumented immigrants is strong among Americans, and Schwarzenegger is using this bigotry to show that he is a true conservative -- even more conservative than Bush, who disapproves of the Minuteman Project...Congratulations, Domenico Maceri! You're the 1000th commentator to note that Arnold is pro-MMP while Bush is anti-MMP. Come over here and collect your winnings. Yes, that's right, it's a little thing called "analysis." As in, why would Bush be anti-MMP? Could it have anything to do with Bush and the GOP getting contributions from those companies that profit off illegal immigration? Could the BP leadership being anti-MMP have anything to do with their boss's stated stance on illegal immigrants?
When the president of the United States and the Border Patrol say that the Minutemen may not have the legal right to patrol the border, you would think that a governor would pay heed...
For another example of Template #3, see "Did Pilar Marrero lie about Arnold Schwarzenegger?"
Posted at 12:27 PM | Comments (1)
"Border police initiative might face roadblocks"
From this:Assemblyman Ray Haynes' proposal to create a state immigration police force to help patrol the border and enforce immigration laws statewide could meet resistance from the federal government and be disputed in the courts...One of the legal experts cited is from the American Immigration Lawyers Association. The related group American Immigration Law Foundation was mentioned in this post.
Haynes, R-Temecula, cites a 1996 provision of a law that allows state and local agencies to negotiate agreements with the federal government to enforce immigration laws. But federal officials [specifically, Manny Van Pelt, a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement] say the law has never been applied to create officers strictly devoted to immigration, and they have no intention of doing so...
See also the site for the California Border Police.
Posted at 10:56 PM | Comments (1)
Jackie Goldberg's "socialist" leanings
On either March 8 or 9 of 2004 the Los Angeles Times printed a story about California Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg (Democrat-Los Angeles) getting married to her long-time lesbian partner Sharon Stricker up in San Francisco (during Gavin Newsom's big moment). The L.A. Times story is no longer online, but it contained this shocking revelation:...Goldberg and Stricker met 28 years ago when both were schoolteachers with socialist leanings...To anyone who's even slightly familiar with Goldberg's history, such a revelation shouldn't be shocking. What's shocking, of course, is that the L.A. Times managed to squeak out something that was even partially true.
It was only partially true because I just ran across the "Thirteenth Report of the Senate Fact-Finding Subcommittee on Un-American Activities--California". The "Senate" is the California Senate, and it's from 1965:
...Jacqueline Goldberg, the sister of Arthur Goldberg, came from Los Angeles to attend the university at Berkeley. She soon became the head of U.C. Women for Peace, a front organization,and was its delegate to a Moscow meeting in 1963. She was also active in the American-Russian Institute at San Francisco, cited by the Attorney General of the United States as a Communist-dominated organization, and is now a member of the Policy Committee for the next World Communist Youth Festival which is scheduled to be held in Algeria. She was a member of both the executive and steering committees of FSM ["Free Speech Movement"], and was arrested during the invasion of Sproul Hall...Previous Jackie Goldberg news:
No, Jackie Goldberg doesn't have anything better to do
One socialist down, fifty to go... (follow the links)
Posted at 05:21 PM | Comments (1)
Far-left churches oppose Schwarzenegger
The Riverside Press-Enterprise informs us in "Churches target governor" that the California Council of Churches doesn't like Arnold's support of the Minuteman Project. At the very end of their article, we get this:...The California Council of Churches represents 1.5 million members of mainstream Protestant and Orthodox churches, said council spokeswoman Elizabeth Sholes."Hmm... 'progressive', eh?" I can hear you saying. "Could the Press-Enterprise be pulling a fast one here, trying to portray what are actually far-left groups as mainstream groups?"
Progressive Christians United, a Pomona-based group of congregations, co-authored the letter.
That's what it looks like to me. Since I'm not familiar with these religious groups, I'd welcome input on the "progressiveness" of the signatories to the letter, which can be found here, which is the site of Progressive Christians Uniting (not "United" as it says in the article). "Peace and justice" are certainly fine things. However, they're also code words for far-left if not even further left.
There's more on the California Council of Churches here. They appear to be at least fellow travelers of the National Council of Churches. And, here's someone else's attempt to find out more about that organization.
If you think the reporter should have reported their ideology more accurately, her email is at the bottom of the article: smcnary *at* pe.com
UPDATE: Whatever they call themselves now, see this from July 2004:
"We represent 1.5 million members of the mainstream and progressive communities of faith," said the Rev. Dr. Rick Schlosser, Executive Director of California Church IMPACT...IMPACT is the "Legislative Advocacy Sister Organization of the California Council of Churches", and Schlosser heads both organizations.
Posted at 12:23 PM | Comments (2)
Lake Tahoe... and a tsunami?
Scientists from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California say that a tsunami could form in Lake Tahoe.
It would require an earthquake of magnitude 7 or higher. Because the lake is the 10th deepest in the world, that would magnify the effect. The result: waves 10 to 33 feet high, which would take just three to six minutes to reach shore. Details here.
Posted at 10:54 AM | Comments (1)
S.F. Chronicle endorses Arnold, Minutemen?
I have trouble believing it, but I believe the S.F. Chronicle has tacitly endorsed both Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Minuteman Project.On Sunday they published "Gov. Vigilante: Just another white guy in a pickup truck" from Marxist UC Irvine professor and "intellectual" Mike Davis. This is apparently a guest editorial, but even so my jaw literally dropped several feet and landed with a thud on the floor.
The editorial is so far gone, so full of lies, so full of false analogies, and just so lunatic that I think something else has to be going on here.
In brief, I think the S.F. Chronicle is running a COINTELPRO-style program.
You might be shocked, but I think it's true. What better way to show that Arnold is right than to print an editorial that sounds even crazier than, say, a drugged and drunken street person in a Hollywood donut shop at 3am?
The columns from, say, Mark Morford are occasionally entertaining, even rarely intentionally so. And, Morford can manage to string a few coherent sentences or even paragraphs together. However, Davis' column is what I would refer to as "literally insane." I believe this to be a tacit admission from the S.F. Chronicle that Arnold is right and all his critics are nuts.
For more on Davis, see "Is Mike Davis' Los Angeles all in his head?" from Salon, or see Brady Westwater's blog.
Posted at 10:52 PM | Comments (1)
This week in anti-Arnold lies
California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's comments about illegal immigration have sent the MSM into a frenzy of lies and misleading statements.
I provide a long survey of the recent anti-Arnold articles here.
Sources mentioned include: AP, LAT, NYT, SacBee, SDUT and the SF Chronical.
On a hubristic side note, one will note that readers of this blog learned about Arnold's comments immediately after he made them, and hours before the AP and others (even including Br'er Drudge) got on the story.
Posted at 12:03 AM | Comments (0)
Don Peralta, Regency Outdoor in the news
LAT:California Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) intervened in a dispute with regulators to help a West Hollywood company maintain lucrative billboards on freeways in Los Angeles and Orange counties, records show.UPDATE: For some unknown reason, I've thrice misspelled his name. It's Don Perata.
Perata intervened in 2001 the day after the company, Regency Outdoor Advertising Inc., reported giving a $25,000 campaign contribution to a Perata-backed initiative. The company's co-owner said the contribution came in response to a request from the senator...
Posted at 02:36 PM | Comments (0)
"Cost of retreats by legislators is questioned"
SACRAMENTO - Sequestered in private policy retreats at posh resorts in San Diego and Newport Beach, Assembly lawmakers billed taxpayers $2,000 for a Mexican buffet, $1,900 for shuttle van service, $26 for a pound of deluxe mixed nuts and $22 for valet parking.
And $42 for a dozen cookies.
The separate getaways for Democrats and Republicans cost at least $40,000, plus about $200 each in round-trip airfare for dozens of legislators and staff, according to receipts released yesterday by the Assembly Rules Committee...
Posted at 12:39 PM | Comments (0)
"Huge toxic pile by river to be moved"
No, it's not a headline from Eye on Springfield. It's in Moab, Utah:
A 10-million-ton pile of radioactive waste that has been polluting the Colorado River for decades will be moved under a plan announced yesterday by the U.S. Department of Energy.I briefly visited Moab during the Blogging Across America tour, but I had no idea there was something like that there. If I'd known I surely would have covered it. As it was, all I did was take some bad shots of Arches National Park. You see the "best" one to the right.
The decision comes after years of heated and emotional debate over what to do with the pile, which sits 750 feet from the river near the tourist town of Moab, Utah.
The decision is being hailed as an environmental victory that will safeguard the drinking water of more than 25 million people, including most San Diego County residents [and those in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix and many other cities in the Southwest]...
Posted at 11:58 AM | Comments (0)
California to be saved from internet hunting
Never let them say that California's legislature isn't looking out for you. Very, very closely looking out for you.
Under legislation sponsored by CA Sen. Debra Bowen (D-Marina del Rey), sites like live-shot.com would be banned from setting up in our fair state. Not only that, but quoting from the bill's text:
This bill would make it unlawful for any person subject to the jurisdiction of this state to take birds or mammals, located both in state and out of state, by means of computer-assisted remote hunting, as defined. The bill would also make it unlawful to establish or operate a computer-assisted remote hunting site in this state for the purpose of permitting the taking of any bird or mammal. This bill would make it unlawful to possess or confine any bird or mammal in furtherance of an activity prohibited by the bill, and would also make it unlawful to import or export any bird or mammal, or any part thereof, taken by computer-assisted remote hunting, as provided.
So, not only could you not operate such a site in California or import the meat you got from live-shot.com, but using live-shot.com (based in Texas) from California would be illegal. The bill recently passed in a Senate committee.
While I'm not in favor of live-shot.com, I'm even less in favor of our nannies in Sacramento trying to micromanage our lives and internet usage. And, I doubt whether there's that large a market for this service either, except perhaps in Japan or China. I predict that live-shot.com will go the way of toys.com. Meanwhile, our fine Democratic legislators will keep proposing worthless legislation.
Posted at 06:29 PM | Comments (1)
Trust nurses, distrust the California Nurses Association
While The Lonewacko Blog continues to express and/or wish to express its love and affection for nurses, the same cannot be said for the California Nurses Association. In addition to sleazy gender baiting, they're also leading a sleazy far-left protest tomorrow against Arnold in San Francisco:Add in the governor's ill-fated attempt to change nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals, and you have a coalition of everyone from nurses and firefighters to teachers and union workers ready to roll out the razzing carpet wherever the governor appears...
As for the governor's feelings about the continuous and growing demos: "It doesn't bother him at all," said spokeswoman Margita Thompson. "He knew from the start that there would be opposition from special interests. This just makes it easier to identify those opposed to change."
Posted at 02:32 PM | Comments (1)
California's wackier senator wants to go hiking with you
Wouldn't it be nice to go for a hike with California's own Sen. Barbara Boxer? Via email:The recent rains filled lakes and reservoirs, turned California's hillsides green, and have given us an amazing display of wildflowers...Yes, aren't they beautiful? And, look, there's a fawn! Wait, what's that discordant sound?
The rains have also made it likely that West Nile Virus will have an even greater impact this year... Preventing the spread of West Nile should be a priority for us all in order to limit the number of people exposed to this disease. I encourage you to visit my Senate website to learn more about West Nile and the steps you can take to reduce the population of mosquitos and the transmission of the virus.Indeed I did. I never would have considered seeking out such information via alternative sources like search engines or something like that. Previous coverage of one of California's gifts to the world starts here.
You can find my website at http://boxer.senate.gov and the address for the West Nile feature is http://www.boxer.senate.gov/wnile.cfm
I hope you find the information on West Nile helpful to you and your family.
Posted at 10:22 PM | Comments (1)
Have you seen Kevin Shelley's PDA?
Secretary of State Kevin Shelley's state-issued PDA was recently stolen from his house in 'Frisco. He had left the window partly open, but he says it was opened even further. He also wiped a smudge off the window before filing the police report. Nothing else of note appears to have been stolen.
If you spot his missing PDA, please contact your local bloggers, newspaper, or the AP.
Details here: "Secretary of state says state-issued PDA stolen from home"
Posted at 05:10 PM | Comments (0)
I think she's got "issues"
SAN FRANCISCO -- Could Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger have another "woman problem" on his hands?He has made headlines in recent months by deriding political opponents as "girlie men" and publicly ridiculing a group of nurses at a state women's conference.
His latest effort to paint the state's teachers as little more than a balky special interest group has angered many critics, who have begun to question why constituencies dominated by women have been singled out for such tough talk.
"He behaves like an arrogant patriarch with respect to women's occupations," said Rose Ann De Moro, executive director of the California Nurses Association. "Nurses, teachers, home health workers -- it's vulgar how he's run roughshod over them. He's arrogant, and he's a bully."
Read on for the other kindergarten-level "actions" the CNA and CTA are engaged in against Arnold.
Posted at 11:30 PM | Comments (0)
California: Still ahead of Mississippi and Arkansas!
The Manhattan Institute has published a national study of high school graduation rates that ranks California 38th among the states, at 67 percent. For white students, the state is ranked 22nd, at 76 percent. You can find the full report in pdf form here.
Posted at 12:19 PM | Comments (0)
SoCal's report card not golden
From this:
With soaring housing costs, bad schools, horrendous traffic jams and a dearth of well-paying jobs, Southern California's once-golden lifestyle continues to dim, a scorecard released Thursday by the regional planning agency shows.
The seventh annual State of the Region report by the Southern California Association of Governments [a government agency -- LW] ranks the quality of life in the region as a D-plus potentially failing.
Housing and air quality worsened in 2003, while the grades for traffic, education, household income and public safety remained static. And while the number of jobs in the six-county region rose by 14,000, personal income for its 17.7 million residents stayed flat.
The report details a slate of interconnected problems plaguing Southern California...
As can be expected, illegal immigration is not one of those problems mentioned in the newspaper report. And, it doesn't appear to be mentioned in any of the other news reports on the study.
It makes a brief appearance or two in the report itself, but no conclusions are drawn between massive immigration and a lower quality of life:
Hence approximately 41 percent of the total growth in the region in 2003 was estimated to be from foreign immigration and 11 percent from domestic in-migration...
Posted at 09:31 PM | Comments (1)
CA's stem cell bill is starting to pay off
"5 with Prop. 71 campaign land jobs at new institute":
...Five people who worked on the stem cell initiative that voters approved in November are among the first eleven employees of the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, which will dole out $3 billion in stem cell research grants...
"There still is a disturbing amount of blurring of lines between the Yes on 71 campaign, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the nonprofit coalition supporting stem cell research and Klein Financial Services [headed by Robert Klein, "chairman of the citizens oversight committee that will govern the institute"]," said Jesse Reynolds of the Center for Genetics and Society...
Posted at 02:56 PM | Comments (0)
Why is Mr. Ranger shooting Bambi?
Exotic deer have worn out their welcome at Point Reyes National Seashore, and the National Park Service has decided it's time to wipe them out...Pt. Reyes is located in... Marin County, the same place that spawned these beasts.
The alternatives range from doing nothing to shooting the deer. The park service's preferred option involves killing most of them and treating the remainder with a special vaccine that would sterilize does for up to three years...
Posted at 02:54 PM | Comments (0)
Children younger than 14 can't patronize tanning booths
The SacBee offers that and several other earnest ukazi from our nannies in Sacramento.
Posted at 08:28 PM | Comments (0)
Arnold: somewhat misquoted by the AP
Dan Walters has the scoop:
...This is what Schwarzenegger said in the transcript of the interview, which was conducted in English: "I think that right now the Republican Party is all the way from the right to the center. And the Democratic Party is all the way from the left to the center. And I like the Republican Party to cross that center line. Keep it to the right where it is, but I mean cross over that center line a little bit, because that would take immediately away 5 percent from the Democrats and be home free for good. That's the trick."
Hujer's German-language story, including that passage, was published in his newspaper on Saturday. International news agencies picked up the quotation, translating it back into English. The version that the Associated Press distributed quoted Schwarzenegger, inaccurately, as saying he wanted Republicans to move "a little to the left."
"I would like the Republican Party to cross this line, move a little further left and place more weight on the center. This would immediately give the party 5 percent more votes without it losing anything elsewhere," read the AP version, which was also distributed Saturday...
Posted at 12:33 PM | Comments (0)
A MEChista scorned
"Bustamante lashes out at governor in speech":
MONTEREY - Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante ripped into Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in Monterey on Friday, accusing the governor of playing presidential politics and engaging in hypocrisy on the use of steroids.
Bustamante, the top elected Democrat in California who lost badly in the October 2003 recall election to Schwarzenegger, also took digs at the governor's height, his alleged sexual harassment on movie sets and his early days as an immigrant...
``Our response is that it sounds like sour grapes from someone who is going to be a casino greeter in two years,'' said Margita Thompson, the governor's press secretary. In the recall election, Bustamante drew heavy fire for alleged connections to some Indian gambling casinos...
I'll wait until you stop laughing.
Despite strong rumors that Schwarzenegger drove and worked without permits when he was a young immigrant, as governor he continues to oppose driver's licenses for ``new immigrants working hard and driving'' [Bustamante said...]
Bustamante marveled at Schwarzenegger's continued popularity. ``It's like we're all playing in his latest movie and the people of California are all movie extras,'' he said. ``His ratings are still very good and the press just can't get enough of this guy.''[
Arnold was a legal immigrant. Those "new immigrants" former MEChA member Bustamante was referring to are "illegal aliens." You might be a "liberal" if you can't tell the difference.
Posted at 09:02 PM | Comments (0)
"California People... California Values"
Catchy slogan that, and somewhat self-enforcing for the "Committee to Explore California Secession". Despite the URL, "Move On California is the website of the Committee to Explore California Secession and is not affiliated or funded by moveon.org or any corporation, political action committee or other special interest." I'm strangely unconvinced.
Posted at 02:05 PM | Comments (2)
"High schoolers fall short, CSU learns"
Nearly six months after giving the first statewide exam to identify students who aren't prepared for university-level course work, California State University officials found that nearly 80 percent of high school juniors they tested are not ready for college English.
The same test - called the Early Assessment Program - dealt better results in math, with 45 percent of participating juniors posting scores too low to prove they are ready for college-level math...
As with other tests, there are questions about the methodology, etc. that only education specialists could answer. The results are pretty shocking nonetheless. The article says the results weren't broken down by ethnicity, but I'd imagine that a good percentage of those who took this test were illegal immigrants or the citizen children of illegal immigrants.
Posted at 11:06 AM | Comments (2)
Do you know the way to [cheat] San Jose?
Duh duh duh duh duh d'duh:
As one of the broadest probes of wrongdoing in the history of San Jose government begins, ethical and legal scholars are questioning if the independent investigator assigned by the city to conduct the inquiry is fit to do so -- especially if it means looking into the actions of City Attorney Rick Doyle...
..."The investigator should not have any ties at all to the principals being investigated. That's Ethics 101," said Bill Allison, spokesman for the Center for Public Integrity in Washington, D.C., which tracks government ethics issues. "You would think San Jose would want to avoid at least the appearance of a conflict."
Earlier stanzas start here, duh duh duh d'duh.
Posted at 10:51 PM | Comments (0)
Arnold signs "pointed" legislation
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed needle-exchange legislation. While I would generally support this on public health rather than ideological grounds, the devil is in the details.
My casual read of the bill in question reveals there are no safeguards to ensure or at least encourage that those who get these needles are in fact already addicts and that the needles are only for their personal use. Because of that, expect a (brisker) black market for needles as non-addicts acquire needles to be sold to addicts who can't get enough.
The bill also makes it a crime to dispose of a needle at places like public playgrounds. Great idea. Now, we just need to station cops in sandboxes at public playgrounds throughout the state.
A better idea would have provided some form of deposit like soda cans. That would have encouraged addicts to dispose of their needles by bringing them into a pharmacy. Pharmacies (I'd imagine) already have bio-hazard boxes that could be used.
And, the other downside is this:
the signing marked a personal triumph for the termed-out Vasconcellos, who had steered two other versions of the measure through the Legislature only to have it rejected by Davis, who had agreed with opponents' concerns.
Any personal triumph for that fine legislator is in some ways a defeat for everyone else. In addition to authoring the racially-subtexted bill to give partial votes to teenies, he also said this: "Since [the U.S.] stole [the southwestern U.S.] from [Mexico], why do you say it’s unfair to steal [the southwestern U.S.] back from us?".
Posted at 12:25 PM | Comments (2)
Do you know the way to San Jose?
Duh duh duh d'duh:
Seeking to end a searing, months-long controversy, San Jose City Manager Del Borgsdorf on Friday concluded his investigation into the city's bungled City Hall technology deal with Cisco Systems by laying all blame on three administrators who already have resigned or been demoted...
But the report released Friday by Borgsdorf will not be the final word on the subject. Santa Clara County District Attorney George Kennedy has launched a criminal investigation of the Cisco deal, and council members have said they may want an independent probe of city management...
I previously posted a wacky humor-style bit about San Jose's new luxurious $45 million city hall. That prompted a commentor to provide a laundry list of links to corruption in San Jose, which those interested in such matters are invited to check out at the last link.
Posted at 12:54 PM | Comments (0)
"Calif. Petition Aims to Make Legislature Part Time"
From this:
The man who helped launch the recall drive that made Arnold Schwarzenegger governor of California began a campaign on Wednesday to send the state's legislators home for most of the year.
Conservative populist Ted Costa said he was introducing an initiative to make California's Democratic-dominated year-round Legislature a part-time body working just 90 days a year...
UPDATE: I was so excited I forgot the read the fine print:
But strictly speaking, Costa’s proposal wouldn’t create a part-time Legislature so much as it would limit the time they could spend in Sacramento. If the 90 days didn’t include weekends, lawmakers would still be meeting 18 weeks per year, or about four and a half months. The rest of the time, they would be in their districts or holding interim committee hearings (which might also carry a per-diem reimbursement stipend).For that reason, and especially if the pay were not cut substantially, I doubt the change would have much effect – good or ill -- on the people who run and serve and the product of the body. They would still, as they do now, vote out most of the legislation in the final weeks of the session. They’d just have less time to fuss around with it before getting to that point.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Ted Costa says he's going to change the language to make it 90 days every 2 years:
Now Costa says that the initiative will limit their sessions to 90 days every two years. That's a true, part-time Legislature that would fundamentally change the culture in the Capitol, which would probably lead to a pay cut and a different breed of politician running for these offices. Costa says he plans to file the change Friday with the attorney general's office. Stay tuned.
I can't wait. The attempts by the Democrats to fight this should be funny.
Posted at 01:29 PM | Comments (0)
"Cooking hearth found near site of cannibal camp"
The Scotsman doesn't have more information than other papers, but it does have a more entertaining headline:
ARCHAEOLOGISTS in the United States have unearthed a cooking hearth in the Sierra Nevada where they believe members of the Donner Party gathered for meagre meals in the months before starvation led to the country’s most famous tale of cannibalism...
And, according to the WaPo:
"Despite their desperate situation, they were trying to act like real humans, eating off of plates and drinking out of teacups," said Kelly Dixon, an archaeologist from the University of Montana and co-leader of the dig. "If we could identify the bones as human and could locate cut marks, we would have the grounds to settle this controversy once and for all."
Posted at 12:44 PM | Comments (0)
Snopes on Jeremiah Denton
The Urban Legends site Snopes has a report on the Jeremiah Denton incident:
Claim: Vietnam veteran (and former POW) Admiral Jeremiah Denton was prevented from speaking before the California Assembly on Independence Day 2004.
They determine that, of course, the claim is true. Readers of this blog already knew this.
Unfortunately, the more popular mainstream blogs and the non-liberal media refused to pay any attention to this story for some reason.
The Snopes article excerpts an L.A. Times piece (also here) that mentions this incident. However, it's in their July 12, 2004 'Inside Politics' column. That column contains six stories, Denton's is the second. And, it refers to Campbell's email as a "screed." And, the tone of the article is one small step above Reuters' Oddly Enough category. That wacky Fabian Nunez!
I emailed the story to the L.A. Times on July 3. They didn't cover this until well after it had taken place, and it was basically buried.
On the other hand, the legal newspaper the L.A. Metropolitan News says: "Fabian Nunez Should Apologize to War Hero or Resign".
Posted at 02:28 PM | Comments (0)
"American Hero Treated With Shameful Disrespect"
California Assemblyman Dennis Mountjoy on the largely ignored Jeremiah Denton story:
In March, the Democrat leadership gave its blessing to a boisterous martial arts demonstration in the Assembly chamber. This week, they refused to allow one of America's great war heroes to give a patriotic speech at a Fourth of July celebration in that same chamber...
Ironically, [the Democrat leadership] are afraid of giving aid and comfort to their own nation. They even seem to fear that we will be successful on the battlefield. What's good for America is bad for Democrats.
So they tried to silence Admiral Jeremiah Denton. They didn't succeed. They did force the speech to be moved from the spacious Assembly floor to a cramped conference room. It was a moving ceremony. One courageous Democrat, Assemblyman John Dutra, gave the invocation. World War II veterans -- including Pearl Harbor survivors and Tuskegee airmen -- responded enthusiastically...
Previous coverage starts here.
Posted at 06:35 PM | Comments (0)
Schwarzenegger makes yet another bad choice
Governor Arnold has come out in favor of Proposition 69:
Proposition 69 requires convicted felons and those arrested for rape and murder to give DNA, collected by mouth swab, not blood, for a statewide database.
Starting in 2009, all felony arrestees will also be tested, but those not convicted can have their sample removed from the database. Taking DNA during the booking process at the same time as old-fashioned fingerprints and mug shots provides police a proven high tech suspect identification tool that results in accurate investigations. No wasted time chasing false leads, the 21st century DNA fingerprint provides proof-positive evidence of innocence or guilt...
Bear in mind what it says above. All those arrested for felony crimes will have their DNA taken. Sure, they can supposedly have it removed, but, many's the slip twixt the request and the response.
If there was ever a John Walsh proposition, this is it. Some people will no doubt feel all warm and safe inside while the government is demanding more and more private and personal information from them.
(Via this)
Posted at 02:10 PM | Comments (0)
"Calif. Dems Block July 4th Tribute to Vietnam Hero"
NewsMax has picked up the story covered in yesterday's post: "Calif. Dems Block July 4th Tribute to Vietnam Hero". It's based on John Campbell's report, with no new information. But, to recap:
Democrats usually turn livid over the slightest hint that their patriotism is being challenged. But the actions of California's Democrat-controlled State Assembly this week have certainly given critics a lot of ammunition...
Republican Assemblyman Jay LaSuer of San Diego had arranged for Vietnam war hero Admiral Jeremiah Denton to come to California to be a part of a 4th of July ceremony held on the Assembly floor...
According to Golden State Assembly Republican John Campbell, "the Democratic leadership refused to allow [Denton] on the Assembly floor and there will be no 4th of July celebration."
A memo from the Democratic speaker's office cited "problems . . . with regards to the spirit, content and participation of various individuals with regard to the ceremony..."
WorldNetDaily has also picked up on it: "California GOP: Democrats shunned war hero". That too is based on Campbell's article.
Human Events reprints John Campbell's article.
The Washington Times adds a bit more information:
Nick Velasquez, spokesman for Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Nunez, Los Angeles Democrat [contact info here --LW], said the issue was resolved because the governor agreed to honor Adm. Denton in his office. Mr. Velasquez also said the Assembly honored the holiday by passing a resolution Monday, but didn't have time for other ceremonies because they were in the midst of budget negotiations and other pressing business.
But Mr. Campbell notes in his memo that on the day Republicans wanted to honor Adm. Denton, the Assembly held a nearly 20-minute ceremony honoring a Los Angeles Times reporter.
Now, let's turn to the non-liberal media and see how they're covering this story.
The non-liberal L.A. Times' last mention of "Jeremiah Denton" was in CalendarLive in 1999.
OK, maybe their search isn't working. Let's try SFGate.com. Oops, nothing at all there. SacBee.com? One result: a list of undeliverable tax refunds from 2003.
I'm sure the non-liberal media would cover this story if it were important enough.
Posted at 10:51 AM | Comments (3)
"Democrats Block Independence Day Celebration"
From Assemblyman John Campbell:
In each of the 4 years that I have been a member of the state Assembly, we have had many "celebrations" on the Assembly floor. These "celebrations" are orchestrated by the Democrats who control the House and often involve singing and dancing. Every one of my 4 years have seen substantial celebrations of Cinco de Mayo (Commemorates the Mexican victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla), St. Patrick's Day (for the patron Saint of Ireland) and Chinese New Year's Day, among others. But never once have we celebrated America's Independence Day, the 4th of July.
So, this year, Republican Assemblyman Jay LaSuer of San Diego arranged for Vietnam war hero Admiral Jeremiah Denton to come to California to be a part of a 4th of July ceremony. As you may know, Admiral Denton was a Navy pilot in Vietnam who was shot down and spent 8 years in a Vietnamese prison...
The Democratic leadership refused to allow him on the Assembly floor and there will be no 4th of July celebration. A memo from the Democratic speaker's office said "problems have arisen both with regards to the spirit, content and participation of various individuals with regard to the ceremony." Apparently, they said that he did not believe in the "separation of church and state" and they didn't like the policies he supported as a United States Senator and therefore they would not allow him to be on the Assembly floor or to speak.
Upon hearing about this, Governor Schwarzenegger offered his meeting room last Monday for a ceremony with Admiral Denton. The room was overflowing with people. Only one elected Democrat was in attendance. A number of veterans of the last 4 wars were present. Admiral Denton gave a very moving speech about the 4th of July and about the undeniable commitment of our founding fathers' to their faith in God. He talked about how the war on terrorism may be the most difficult war we have yet fought. And he went on to say that he fears that partisan attacks on our mission and our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan sound too familiar to what he experienced in Vietnam. Following his speech, The Governor came out to personally spend time with him.
And, here's the email sent out by Democrat Speaker Fabian Nunez:
"Problems have arisen both with regards to the spirit, content and participation of various individuals with regard to the ceremony on June 28th. More importantly this celebration was intended to celebrate the Fourth of July. The celebration was represented as one resolution, a couple of speakers on each side of the resolution and a song. It has now turned into a ceremony more in line with Veterans Day and with ideological overtones that were not presented or agreed to. We are hoping these issues can be resolved - if not I doubt the Speaker will ok the proceedings."
Part of the Democrat's problem is certainly caused by partisanship. However, confusion probably also plays a role. Many of these Democrats are simply confused over which country they represent.
If you'd like to send a polite message to Nunez, here's his contact information:
Capitol Office
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0046
(916) 319-2046
District Office
320 West 4th Street
Room 1050
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 620-4646
Assemblymember.Nunez@assembly.ca.gov
Posted at 04:40 PM | Comments (5)
Life imitates The Lonewacko Blog
On October 03, 2003, in response to the L.A. Times' Arnold hit-pieces, The Lonewacko Blog posted a wonderfully entertaining satire entitled "ARNOLD TRIED TO EAT FLUFFY".
Now, Arnold is trying to kill Fluffy, Rover, Pecky, and all your other favorite pet groups.
Note also that that article is entitled 'Schwarzenegger Wants Strays Killed Faster', it's an AP report, and none of the dozens of news organizations that have printed it have changed the headline.
UPDATE: Arnold has changed his mind.
Posted at 11:17 AM | Comments (0)
But, think of all the benefits of your new custom lift and window-cleaning boom to scrub in between the 70-foot glass rotunda and its sunshade!
The San Jose Mercury does some good for a change and has an expose of San Jose's plans to spend $45 million on outfitting their new City Hall:
When Mayor Ron Gonzales enters his glitzy conference room atop San Jose's new City Hall, he could dim the lights with his $4,400 touch-screen remote control, then use one finger to fire up his $12,000, 50-inch plasma-screen TV or another to run his $23,200 video teleconferencing system.
On the 17 floors below, 1,800 other city employees would enjoy the benefits of a furniture-and-technology budget that spends an average of $25,000 on each of them. Many would sit in their new $3,600 cubicles and make calls on $400 Internet telephones connected to an $8 million phone-and-computer network...
All is not joy for those civil servants: $5 million is being spent to make their cubicles smaller.
Posted at 01:50 PM | Comments (2)
California driving is about to get doubleplus safe
Limiting cell phone usage is a common goal of many legislatures, but California’s lawmakers want to up the ante, adding more than that to the list of what motorists can and can’t do behind the wheel.
A bill passed by the California state Senate would subject drivers who:
- talk on the phone
- put on makeup
- drink
- eat
- smoke
- interact with pets or kids
- read
- write
- tune the radio or
- program hand-held devices like Blackberries to:
fines of $35 for the first offense and $150 for the second.
Aw, fuck you.
Oops, sorry, I forgot this is a family blog.
But, just for this one post, consider that the sponsor of this bill is Kevin Murray, who was supposedly caught getting a BJ in a state-owned car. The car was, however, not in motion.
Posted at 12:09 AM | Comments (1)
May 05, 2004"Proposal to Let 14-Year-Olds Vote Clears First Legislative Hurdle"
Self-esteem guru and scheming California politician John Vasconcellos' attempt to lower the voting age is crawling forward:
A state senator’s proposal to lower California’s voting age to 14 passed its first legislative test Wednesday on a party-line vote of the Senate Elections and Reapportionment Committee.
With Democrats in support and Republicans in opposition, the controversial bill by Sen. John Vasconcellos, D-San Jose, cleared the committee on a 3-2 vote.
By the same vote, the committee also approved a companion measure -- a proposed amendment to the state constitution which would be needed to lower the minimum voting age from 18 to 14. The constitutional amendment would require voter approval...
It'd be so nice if the Bay Area would just secede from the rest of California.
As I've said before, this is much more than just wacky legislation from a wacky legislator, and I'd suggest taking him - or at least those like him - seriously. Previous coverage starts here.
Posted at 04:00 PM | Comments (0)
April 13, 2004"Bustamante agrees to largest ever campaign violation fine"
I don't know whether this is what Bustamante wanted or not; it's certainly not as good as the $9 million they could have fined him:
Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante paid a record $263,000 fine for violating state limits on accepting campaign donations, California's Fair Political Practices Commission said today.
The state's political watchdog agency charged in a civil lawsuit filed in January that Bustamante and his supporters improperly moved $3.8 million between campaign committees during the recall election in an effort to skirt contribution limits.
Although FPPC officials have said Bustamante faced fines of as much as $9 million, the $263,000 settlement is still the largest ever paid by a candidate...
Bustamante's shenanigans are mentioned in this older article.
I vaguely recall another donation violation with an exorbitant fine that seemed to be politically motivated. They were fined for each occurence, adding up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, I can't remember enough keywords to find it.
Posted at 08:44 PM | Comments (0)
March 30, 2004John Kerry: "help will be on the way to California!"
The article 'Kerry offers aid in capital visit' appears in the SacBee, but I occasionally thought it might be in the Onion:
Presidential hopeful John Kerry said Monday that "help is on the way" to California if he is elected, suggesting that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger would be better off if the Massachusetts Democrat is in the White House...
"We knew each other when he first came over to this country to make 'Pumping Iron,' and we've stayed in touch ever since then, and our families are friends, and so I hope California does well. When I am president, ladies and gentlemen, Governor Schwarzenegger, help will be on the way to California!"
...Kerry did not meet with Schwarzenegger while in town, his first visit to Sacramento since he became the presumptive Democratic nominee, his campaign said. But on Sunday night, shortly after touching down in the state capital, Kerry did sit down at the Esquire Grill for a glass of wine with Schwarzenegger's wife, Maria Shriver, a Democrat and a member of the Kennedy family...
A Vietnam veteran, Kerry told the crowd at the Sacramento fund-raiser, "I learned bitterly what it was like when a president and a government take a nation to war and leave them at war when the truth is left tattered in the background..."
I wonder, was that "Vietnam veteran" bit inserted because they couldn't find a quote where he mentioned that fact himself? Naw, that can't be the case.
The picture is from a celebration of California's newest state holiday, Cesar Chavez Day. Somehow I'm a little uncomfortable with schoolchildren waving a flag that a) represents a union, and b) has a racial component. See the history of the UFW flag:
The Aztec eagle is an historic symbol for the people of Mexico. The UFW incorporated the Aztec eagle into its design in order to show the connection the union had to migrant workers of Mexican-American descent, though not all UFW workers were Mexican-American...
Would the educational establishment allow schoolchildren to wave flags that represented, say, management and had a white-oriented symbol on them? I think not.
Also, note that John Kerry has gladly accepted the endorsement of Antonio Villaraigosa, the former president of the UCLA chapter of the racial separatist organization MEChA. Bush is bad for California, and Kerry would probably be even worse.
Posted at 01:11 PM | Comments (0)
March 26, 2004Oakland to create gay ghetto by government fiat, remove straights
Only in California! Specifically, the town that gave us Ebonics:
[Oakland Councilman Danny Wan] wants to cultivate a gay community in the area known as Eastlake [east of Lake Merritt], by using the business development and marketing powers of the area's nascent Redevelopment Agency to turn a tumble-down neighborhood into an economic and social hot spot...
Oakland is not alone in trying to create gay-focused neighborhoods, though districts in other large cities tend to grow out of community will, as opposed to government proposals... [yes, but that would run counter to the California Way]
"It's really about creating safe places where individuals can flourish and feel welcomed," [National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce co-founder Justin Nelson]said.
Yes, but will it be Feng Shuied?
But, seriously, I like Oakland. Every time I'm in the Bay Area I try to stop at Lake Merritt. Shouldn't things like this occur naturally rather than, as the article says, by government fiat? Will the City of Oakland be using eminent domain against straight businesses, or businesses which are judged to be not gay-friendly enough? Will there be a smashing of windows of straight businesses? Forced conversions perhaps? The mind reels and the legislators drool.
Posted at 01:18 PM | Comments (5)
March 12, 2004"Why stop with 14-year-olds?"
Here's an OC Register editorial on John Vasconcellos' attempt to get the vote to 14-year-olds:
First of all, a significant number of California's high school graduates are already functionally illiterate, so extending rights to other cognitively challenged citizens seems only fair. Furthermore, voters in Depends constitute one of the fastest-growing classes of enfranchised citizens in the Golden State. Allowing Pampers people equal access thus can be seen as a logical extension of the basic democratic principle that government has no business peering into people's underwear...
Previous coverage of this matter starts here.
Unfortunately, my statement about most people just playing this for laughs still holds. There must be some reason why he wants to change "entitled" to "authorized" and hopefully we'll find out before it's too late to do anything about it.
Posted at 12:57 PM | Comments (0)
March 11, 2004Wacky Senator Vasconcellos' wacky legislation now available
The bill that would lower California's voting age to 14 is now available online. It seems pretty straightforward, except perhaps the use of the word "authorize" in the following section:
Existing provisions of the California Constitution authorize a
United States citizen 18 years of age and a resident of this state to
vote.See the prior coverage of this proposal here.
This is much more than just wacky legislation from a wacky legislator. See that post for the details. Lots of bloggers have covered this story, and all of them have covered it like they would a Reuters Oddly Enough story. Even the AP - yes, the AP - was more clued into what this is really about.
Link to the new legislation via SoCal Law Blog.
Posted at 12:23 AM | Comments (0)
March 08, 2004Building a new generation of "liberal" voters
CA State Senator John Vasconcellos, D-Santa Clara, wants to give partial votes to those 14 years old and up:
Sen. John Vasconcellos, D-Santa Clara, proposed the idea alongside three other lawmakers, saying the Internet, cellular phones, multichannel television and a diverse society makes today's teens better informed than generations of their predecessors.
Coming on the heels of an expected record low turnout among adults in the March 2 election, Vasconcellos would give 16-year-olds a half vote and 14-year-old a quarter vote in state elections beginning in 2006.
The idea, formally called "Training Wheels for Citizenship," first requires two-thirds approval by the Legislature to appear on this November's ballot...
A Republican colleague called it "the nuttiest idea I've ever heard."
Said Assemblyman Ray Haynes, R-Murrieta, "There's a reason why 14-year-olds and 16-year-olds don't vote. They are not adults. They are not mature enough. They are easily deceived by political charlatans."
Student supporters said the idea could give them a say in issues such as education funding and bring new voices to a California electorate now largely dominated by older Caucasians.
In other words, it's a partisan and racial power grab. I can already see the stories about teachers telling their students how to vote being swept under the rug.
Lest you think Vasconcellos is just a nut, consider this exchange:
"... [Mexico and/or Mexican-American politicians] said publicly that they are going to use immigration to control the Southwest, retake the Southwest, and eventually, take over the entire U.S...."
Interruption by State Sen. John Vasconcellos, D-San Jose: "Since we stole it from them, why do you say it’s unfair to steal it back from us?"
Yeh Ling-Ling: "I’m sorry?"
Vasconcellos: "We stole it from them in the first place."
Yeh Ling-Ling: "Exactly what do you want to have happen?"
Vasconcellos: "I found your testimony (shaking his head, putting his glasses down) … I don’t want to debate you."
Yeh Ling-Ling: (with a questioning look) "Exactly?"
Vasconcellos: "I don’t want to debate you. I’ve listened to what you’ve had to say, period."
UPDATE: I looked at Vasconcellos' recent legislation, and I found two items dealing with "Voting Age." The first would change
"A person entitled to register to vote shall be a United States citizen"
into
"A person authorized to register to vote shall be a United States citizen"
The second would change
"Every person who qualifies under Section 2 of Article
II of the California Constitution... may vote at any election held
within the territory within which he or she resides..."into
"Every person who qualifies under Section 2 of Article
II of the California Constitution... may vote at any election held
within the territory within which that person resides..."These appear to be minor changes, but they might be stepping stones on the way to the Vasconcellos dream of a Kid's Army. Maybe the "authorized" change has to do with his bill authorizing child votes rather than them being entitled via federal law.
UPDATE 2: File this under "What AP isn't telling you." It turns out one of the teenagers mentioned in the article, Robert Reynolds, is the local chapter leader of National Youth Rights Association. From this:
A group of about six Berkeley teenagers were awake at 7 a.m. yesterday—and happy about it.
Carrying signs that read, “No taxation without representation, Where’s my ballot?!?!” and “Got ballots? I need them,” the teens protested outside a North Berkeley polling booth yesterday, to lower the minimum voting age to 16, while passing drivers honked and waved.“We never had voting rights before and we’ve never been taken seriously. I feel like a kid,” said 17-year-old Berkeley High student Robert Reynolds, the local chapter leader of National Youth Rights Association.
Reynolds said many teenagers are just as informed as 18-year-olds, and allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to vote would also increase the diminishing voter turnout.
Their efforts are part of an international movement to lower the voting age, Reynolds said—Germany, the United Kingdom and five other countries are also considering allowing 16-year-olds to vote...
A UC Berkeley student even joined the protest.
“Anyone who is denied a right to vote based on their age is age discrimination,” said junior Kalin McKenna.
From Robert Reynolds' talking points to John Vasconcellos' pen.
UPDATE 3: The wacky legislation is now available. Details here.
Posted at 08:22 PM | Comments (0)
March 03, 2004Let's Prop56 Barbara Boxer
California Insider says the following:
It looks as if you can add Proposition 56 to the long list of ballot measures on which the state’s Democratic establishment and its voters haven’t seen eye to eye. It really is amazing when you think about the record over the past 10 to 15 years, during which Democrats have repeatedly won majorities in the Legislature even as their views on major policy matters clash with a majority of those who vote in statewide elections. Going back to term limits in 1990, immigration and crime in 1994, affirmative action in 1996, bilingual education in 1998 and gay marriage in 2000, plus taxing the rich, regulating health care and several other issues along the way. Prop. 56 was a creation of the public employee labor unions and their Democratic allies, designed to make it easier to pass a budget and raise taxes, which now require a two-thirds majority vote in the Assembly and Senate. The measure was dressed up with a populist-sounding provision to withhold the pay of legislators and the governor when a budget was late, and that part of the initiative at first polled well with voters. But once opponents dubbed it the “blank check” initiative and put out the word that it would make it easier for the Legislature to raise taxes, it dropped like a stone.
Sure, Bill Jones isn't exactly electrifiying. But, perhaps he could win in the same way that Prop. 56 won. It shouldn't be that difficult to point out that Boxer is an extremist. She's got a 96 ADA rating, she consorts with former members of racial separatist organizations (see 'Boxer Gets Backing From Latino Group in Primary'), etc. etc. She'll try to portray Bill Jones as an extremist white male; her racism and sexism should be pointed out as well as her extremism. Maybe she'll go to the same place as Prop. 56.
Posted at 11:35 AM | Comments (0)
March 02, 2004Ex-Davis aide faces Oracle charges
Attorney General Bill Lockyer today will file multiple felony charges of falsifying documents against a key aide to former Gov. Gray Davis, stemming from her involvement in the state's troubled bid to buy Oracle Corp. database software, sources said.
Posted at 01:08 PM | Comments (0)
February 28, 2004Report rips California's business climate
From the SacBee:
California firms find doing business here so difficult that 40 percent of those surveyed plan to move some jobs out of state and 50 percent will not add jobs within the state, according to a study released Thursday.
The report, issued by the California Business Roundtable, said the cost of doing business in the state is 30 percent higher than in other Western states, with regulatory costs the biggest culprit...Business groups frequently issue such warnings, hoping to spur the legislature to cut back on regulations, reduce taxes or otherwise improve the business climate. But William Hauck, president of the Roundtable, said the Bain research was an unbiased effort to document and address the largest impediments to economic growth in the state...
Regulatory costs in California are 106 percent higher than in other Western states, the study also said.
Aren't I cute? Except, it's not just Boxer's and Pelosi's fault, it's pretty much every Democrat in the whole state.
This might just be a "give us what we want, this time we might mean it" report, but, nevertheless, note that regulatory costs are more than twice as much as other Western states. That's not just an additional 6%, that's twice as much plus 6% as a sweetner.
Posted at 03:37 PM | Comments (0)
February 19, 2004One socialist down, fifty to go...
CA State Assemblyperson Jackie Goldberg has got herself arrested during a protest of the supermarket strike:
LOS ANGELES - More than 40 people were arrested Thursday during supermarket rallies in support of grocery clerks idled by a four-month strike and lockout.
The granddaughter of late farmworker union leader Cesar Chavez, state Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, D-Los Angeles, and an 86-year-old member of the Gray Panthers activist group were among those arrested during civil disobedience rallies involving clerks and about two dozen labor unions and community groups, organizers said...
Previously, I saw Jackie in person at a "peace" protest, and I covered her not-so-secret machinations here.
Posted at 09:43 PM | Comments (1)
February 17, 2004Nine million reasons to vote NO on Prop. 56
Here are the top contributors to the Yes on 56 campaign:
- Service Employees International Union, $6 million
- California Teachers Association, $1.7 million
- California Federation of Teachers, $911,000
- California School Employees Association, $374,000
- California Faculty Association, $254,000
Full story here:
Public employee unions, dependent on a steady stream of taxpayer dollars for salaries and benefits, have spent more than $9 million of their members' dues to push Proposition 56, the ballot measure that would make it easier to pass a state budget.
While the pro-56 campaign touts its support from the League of Women Voters and Parent Teacher Association, campaign finance reports show that unions representing nearly 1 million state and local government workers have provided nearly all the money for the campaign and television ads portraying the Legislature in a food fight.
The union-financed ballot measure advocated in those ads would allow lawmakers to pass budgets and raise taxes with a 55 percent majority, long a goal of public sector unions stymied by the current requirement that two-thirds of the Legislature must approve a budget.
The Service Employees International Union alone has contributed nearly $6 million to the campaign. The union represents more than 200,000 employees in California, including large numbers of health care workers and county workers dependent on state funding.
Associations representing school and university employees -- an estimated 26 percent of all union workers in California -- have put up $3.6 million more to pass the measure.
According to the Yes on 56 people, here are the top industries contributing to the No side:
- Oil Companies $1,036,000
- Tobacco Companies $582,581
- Alcohol Companies $2,307,652
- Insurance Companies $835,317
I'm not particularly interested in being on the same side as Chevron/Texaco and the "Distilled Spirits Council." But, any side with SEIU and the educational establishment on it is one I don't want to be on.
Posted at 11:02 PM | Comments (0)
February 15, 2004Top Contributors To Arnold [Schwarzenegger] By Industry
The chart (from ArnoldWatch.org) includes this Arnold quote: "Any of those kinds of real big, powerful special interests, if you take money from them you owe them something".
See also "Schwarzenegger patrons provide money, support":
Schwarzenegger is turning increasingly to a core group of 10 old friends and business associates to help bankroll his campaigns.
They're led by Paul Folino, head of an Orange County high tech firm, who has given nearly $1.4 million beginning with Proposition 49...
The list also includes Jerry Perenchio, head of Univision, the nation's largest Spanish language television network; financiers Robert Day, Timothy Draper and Lawrence Dodge; developers Alex Spanos and William Lyon; dot-com entrepreneur Todd Wagner; Howard Lester of Williams-Sonoma and William Cronk of Dreyer's Ice Cream.
There's no way to prove that Arnold getting money from Jerry Perenchio has lead to Arnold's new-found support for driver's licenses for illegal aliens:
Though he campaigned hard against it, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is negotiating with a Democratic state lawmaker to draft a bill that would grant driver's licenses to illegal aliens...
Schwarzenegger said his office has been working closely to craft a successor to SB 60 with state Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, a former member of MeCha, the radical Latino student movement demanding annexation of all southwestern states.
Bustamante's ties with MEChA lead to his defeat. Now we've got someone who's working with former MEChA member Gil Cedillo to get illegal aliens to the DMV where they can pick up their driver's licenses and perhaps register to vote under MotorVoter.
Maybe it's time for Instant Recall Part 2.
UPDATE: Arnold would do well to recall the following:
Just last year, California Gov. Gray Davis was hurt in his bid to stave off a recall when he signed a bill to let illegal immigrants obtain state driver's licenses. The new governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, pushed a repeal of that provision through the legislature.
An exit poll commissioned by the Federation for American Immigration Reform showed that 30 percent of California voters said they were somewhat or much more likely to vote against Mr. Davis because he signed the law. Only 8 percent of voters were somewhat or much more likely to support him because of it.
Posted at 03:17 PM | Comments (0)
October 15, 2003Could the L.A. Times sink any lower?
From Jill Stewart's interview with an anonymous L.A. Times reporter who worked on the Arnold expose:
"The mainstream press critics like those published on Romenesko are asleep as to what has happened here. They are defending the L.A. Times in every way. There should be no defense by media critics of what happened here. One woman did not sleep for two nights after a Times reporter showed up at her door, with the thinnest evidence, demanding to know if her child was Arnold's love child. It never panned out, it was untrue. Why has the L.A. Times become a tabloid, knocking relentlessly on people's doors for tabloid gossip? And would John Carroll have run a front page Love Child story if it had been true? Could we sink any lower?"
Posted at 06:27 AM | Comments (0)
October 08, 2003The map illustrates the problem
Check out the county-by-county map of who received the majority of votes in the recall election. Without the Silicon Valley, the East Bay, Marin County, and San Francisco County, California might be able to pull itself out of the mess it's in. Perhaps they could be encouraged to secede, becoming part of Canada or Communist China.
Posted at 05:24 AM | Comments (0)
October 03, 2003"ARNOLD TRIED TO EAT FLUFFY"
SANTA MONICA, CA - Pictured above is little 5 year old Becky Martin of Santa Monica who, in a stunning revelation that the Lonewacko Blog exclusively is reporting, claims that California gubenatorial candidate Arnold Schwartzenegger tried to eat her pet cat 'Fluffy.'
"I was walking down the street with Fluffy, when up came this big monster of a mean man. He had a German accent and he was carrying a copy of Mein Kampf. I saw him insult several women, People of Color, and GBLTs and when he got near me, I was scared. He was looking at Fluffy [Becky's cat --ed.] with a strange look in his eyes. 'Gif me ze cat' he said. 'Why do you want my cat, you monster?' I asked. 'I am hungry. I eat pet cats. And pet dogs. For fun.' I'm very glad that Bob [completely independent political consultant Bob Mulholland, Becky's neighbor --ed.] happened to be passing by, and he shooed Arnold away using a copy of the local fishwrap/tabloid."
Becky's story remains unconfirmed, but she seems credible to this reporter.
Posted at 06:00 AM | Comments (0)
October 02, 2003So, when's the L.A.
EnquirerTimes gonna cover this?From Jill Stewart's "Closet Wacko Vs. Mega-Fibber" column of November 27, 1997, reprinted here:
I have this file, labeled Gray Davis, that for the last few years I've been stuffing with all the bizarre little tales that are quietly shared among journalists and political insiders about the man who, though probably viewed as a blandly pleasant talking head by most Californians, is in fact one of the strangest ducks ever elected to statewide office.
Long protected by editors at the Los Angeles Times--who have nixed every story Times reporters have ever tried to develop about Davis's storied history of physical violence, unhinged hysteria and gross profanity--the baby-faced, dual personality Davis has been allowed to hold high public office with impunity.
Perhaps you are among the millions never told of Lieutenant Governor Davis's widely known--but long unreported--penchant for physically attacking members of his own staff. His violent tantrums have occurred throughout his career, from his days as Chief of Staff for Jerry Brown to his long stint as State Controller to his current job.
Davis's hurling of phones and ashtrays at quaking government employees and his numerous incidents of personally shoving and shaking horrified workers--usually while screaming the f-word "with more venom than Nixon" as one former staffer recently reminded me--bespeak a man who cannot be trust with power. Since his attacks on subservients are not exactly "domestic violence," they suggest to me the need for new lexicon that is sufficiently Dilbertesque. I would therefore like to suggest "office batterer" for consideration as you observe Davis in his race for governor...(Via Kaus)
Posted at 04:22 PM | Comments (1)
August 12, 2003"Recall Supporters Violently Attacked"
According to this:
All told, there were four attacks on our people [Recall Gray Davis supporters]... Our supporters were kicked, punched, beaten and tackled. There were several men attacked, a 20-year-old woman and then the “WAR” [Workers Against the Recall] thugs chased after and harassed, screamed at and terrorized a 7-year-old boy who was crying and shaking after watching his mother and father assaulted.
The link includes several still photos and video from Fox News. In the video, you can the end of the attacks, and it's a bit more than just a minor scuffle.
Note also that the WAR meeting was sponsored by the State Building and Construction Trades Council. They're a private agency, however, recall supporters have claimed that some tax money might have been improperly used by Davis to fight the recall. See "Recall Organizers Accuse Davis Backers of Improper Use of Tax Money".
Posted at 12:18 PM | Comments (0)
The Assembly Districts that matter
[UPDATE: Darn, darn, gosh golly gee, and darn.
The following analysis is all wrong. It's the candidates that rotate, not the wacky rearranged alphabet. So, until the complete list of candidates is announced, it's not possible to tell in which Assembly districts the popular candidates will appear at the top of the ballot. Ahnold may never appear at the top of the ballot, and may always be preceded by Arianna and Bustamante.
This rotation scheme is described here:
The resulting order of letters constitutes the alphabet to be used for determining the order of candidates' names on the upcoming statewide ballot; it applies throughout the name, not just for the first letter so that Adams could precede Aaron.
Names of candidates for offices voted on statewide rotate by Assembly district, starting with Assembly District 1 where the names appear as first determined by the random alphabet. In Assembly District 2, the candidate who appeared first in Assembly District 1 drops to the bottom and the other candidates move up one position and so on throughout the 80 districts...
I blame the liberal media for making me think it was alphabetical rotation.]
OK, they all matter in the CA recall. However, in some districts the top candidates will all be at the top of the ballot, and in others they'll all be at the bottom.
Arianna will be at the top in the 9th (either all of the city of Sacramento, or the south part of it), 35th (the big empty Santa Barbara county and the cities of Ventura and Santa "An American Family" Barbara), and 61st (Pomona, Ontario, and Chino in the Inland Empire) districts.
Bustamante will be at the top in the 10th (includes parts of Stockton and Lodi [not a good place to be stuck]. However, it also includes the largely empty Amador county and the Sacramento suburbs of Rancho Cordova and Rancho Murrieta), 36th (northern L.A. County between Lancaster and Apple Valley), and 62nd (Fontana, Rialto, and points east and south) districts. In those districts, Arianna will be at the bottom of the ballot. However, Ahnold will be just behind Bustamante.
In the 11th (northern part of the East Bay from Hercules to Concord to Pittsburg), 37th (Includes the largely empty northern Ventura and north western L.A. Counties. However, also includes conservative strongholds like Camarillo and Thousand Oaks), and 63rd (wackily starts in Rancho Cucamonga and Upland, then swings over to Redlands) districts, Ahnold will be at the top of the ballot, and Arianna and Bustamante will be at the bottom.
I might look at the demographic data later, but for now it seems like advantage Ahnold.
Lonewacko's assignment desk: someone compile a series of CA maps, one for each candidate. Show the counties where each will be at various ranges in the ballot (first page, second page, etc.) using different colors on the map. Produce a corresponding table with demographic data.
And, for those of you who say ballot position doesn't matter, recall that it was Californians who voted for Gray in the first place.Posted at 12:03 AM | Comments (0)
August 11, 2003Ahnold on Prop. 187
California Insider reports that:
the Sacramento Bee leads with the story on Democrats rapping Arnold for having voted for Prop. 187 in 1994. That was the initiative that sought to end most public services to illlegal immigrants. Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres hit him on that, and for having former Gov. Pete Wilson as his campaign chairman. "There is a famous phrase in our community, and that is, 'Judge a person by the friends that he keeps,''' Torres said.
On a related subject, who are Art Torres' friends? This page has more information:
Art Torres, the Chairman of the California Democratic Party and the keynote speaker at the meeting, shouted to the audience "Power is not given to you. You have to take it...Remember 187 is the last gasp of White America in California!" [sound clip here] and "Que Viva La Causa!" (Long Live our Cause!) -- and then later exulted over how he could make such racist remarks with total impunity.
Let me know when the media looks into Torres' statements and associations.
Posted at 09:43 AM | Comments (1)
August 09, 2003Maybe it really is a circus
Many of your questions about the upcoming California recall can be answered by viewing these pictures. They were shot earlier today at the Los Angeles County registrar's office in the last hour before the 5pm deadline to file. All told, 125 people have filed statewide, however some of those will probably be rejected due to problems with their application.
Those filing at the last minute at the registrar's office include:
- James Tsangares, a Republican candidate who wants to recall Arnold...
- former NFL linebacker (and current Reebok office linebacker) Terry Tate...
- public speaking expert Lynda Toth, who, as governor, would convene a large board of business and other leaders to help solve CA's problems...
- Ruben Paul Vega, who wants to bring Nevada-style gambling to CA. He exited the registrar's office as all the news people were leaving, and, despite trying to get one of them to interview him, none decided to do it.
One candidate who was unable to register was Jim Dimov, who wants to eliminate all taxes. Unfortunately, he was a few minutes late and wasn't allowed to register. However, he promises that he'll take the matter to court.
Other notable attendees included a Norwalk resident who had had his Terminator cup (that he got at Universal Studios) signed by Ahnold. eBay is one suggested future venue for the cup.
The owner of lautoexchange.com also dropped by, and expressed his support for Arnold. The one from Diff'rent Strokes, that is! He also promised to pay the car tax for the first 35 people who would buy cars from him.
Travel agency owner Tony Srivastan also threw his hat into to the ring.
Unfortunately, some candidates don't seem to be quite at the same leading edge as, say, Howard Dean.
My first candidate interview was with Sergio Myers. He seemed personable enough, however, his campaign manager interrupted our conversation:
"Excuse me, what's your interest?"
"I'm a blogger."
"A what?"
"I have my own web site."
"Well, thanks for your interest, and keep watching our campaign [now get lost]"Well, no blogging votes for Sergio then. Unfortunately, he probably won't experience the wrath of the blogosphere, as he appears to be a Hollywood producer just doing it for the publicity.
On a more serious note, I also secured the financial disclosure documents for Simon, Ahnold, Arianna, and Larry Flynt. Flynt lists the heavy advertisers to his magazines, some of whom have quite interesting names.
Arianna's statement is quite thin, indicating only that her home and her business are worth more than $1 million.
Ahnold's statement includes various real estate and business ventures, trusts for Maria, and the like.
Simon's statement is about 1/2 inch thick, and I'm not going to even bother reading it.
Posted at 07:01 PM | Comments (3)
August 07, 2003Heard in the comments at California Insider
California Insider enabled comments for one post, and it contains the following:
I am just one more Hispanic Democrat who plans on leaving the party. I have no real representation anymore. The democrats have abandoned me for illegals and other freeloaders...
Maybe those who support Cruz Bustamante will wise up as well. Especially if they weren't aware of his past membership in a racial separatist organization.
Posted at 02:29 PM | Comments (0)
Let the Arnold smearing begin!
Here's a list of anti-Arnold smears, derived from a list at IndyMedia.
Posted at 02:23 PM | Comments (0)
August 03, 2003I just type what Matt tells me to
According to Drudge: "[Joe "Gray" Davis] would file a legal challenge on Monday to the Oct. 7 recall election that if successful would delay the vote until March and would allow Davis to run as a replacement to himself..."
Full story here.
Posted at 08:56 PM | Comments (0)
July 29, 2003New phoneme proposed for English language
I'd like to take this opportunity to propose a completely new phoneme and its corresponding diacritical mark for English. The mark will be the ' sign (single quote). That mark will precede a word, and will indicate that one should "cough out" that word. Here, let's try it out:
It's Oct. 8, the day after California's historic election in which the voters have recalled Gov. Gray Davis and replaced him with . . . Peter Camejo? Don't rule it out...
Imagine that Davis loses his recall fight and that sizable numbers of Democrats who voted to retain the governor cast their votes for Camejo. For some, it will be because Camejo is the choice closest to moderate-to-liberal Davis. For others, it will be a way to stick it to the Republican conservatives who created this mess in the first place. Add the Democratic vote to the 5 percent that Camejo received when he ran for governor in 2002, and it could be a runaway for the most 'liberal candidate in the bunch.
How 'liberal? Camejo favors a statewide ``living wage,'' rejects Ward Connerly's racial privacy initiative, supports the legalization of marijuana, opposes capital punishment and was an early, vocal critic of the invasion of Iraq. Result: While conservative Republicans may succeed in tossing out their nemesis, they may pave the way for election of the most 'liberal governor in the state's history.
Note to Larry N. Gerston: I was just joking about my support for Camejo.
Posted at 10:03 AM | Comments (0)
July 28, 2003Hillary, Bill to seal Gray's fate
Supposedly, Hillary and Bill are going to campaign against the recall.
Posted at 11:02 PM | Comments (0)
July 25, 2003Celebrities scheduled to appear
Audie Bock (NEW!)
Gary Condit (NEW!)
Leon Panetta (NEW!)
Gray Davis
Peter Camejo
Arianna Huffington
Michael Huffington
Michael Savage
Jack Kemp(appearance cancelled)
"Melrose" Larry Green
Darrell Issa
Arnold Schwarzenegger (tentative)
Bill Simon
Paul Simon/Art Garfunkel
Dick Riordan
Tom McClintock
Nanci Pelosi
Fugly the Klown
Huell Howser
Abe Vigoda
Ricky Henderson
Ron "Horshack" Palillo
Dianne Feinstein
Jerry Brown
Jackie Goldberg
Mark MorfordSpecial celebrity guest ringmasters: Bill, Hillary, and maybe Chelsea too
Not all celebrities' involvement could be verified at press time. No guarantee that any listed celebrity will appear is expressed or implied.This post will be updated 24/7 as new celebrity announcements are made.
Perhaps I should change it into an RSS feed or something.
Posted at 08:28 PM | Comments (0)
July 24, 2003Governor Savage?
OK, so maybe my support for Peter Camejo was a bit half-hearted (see the previous entry).
What about talk show host Michael Savage? Some say he got a bad rap from MSNBC and others of even lower repute.
And, Savage says he's considering running. Here's his platform:
- Enforcing Proposition 187, a ballot initiative approved by the people of the state that would have ended taxpayer subsidization of medical and education services for illegal aliens. Savage contends enforcement of the initiative would save California taxpayers $8 billion to $10 billion.
- The deportation of all criminal illegal aliens in the state. Savage says this action would save $3 billion to $5 billion.
- Hospitalization of the mentally-ill homeless. Again, Savage claims this would save $3 billion to $5 billion dollars in welfare payments.
- Enforce another state ballot initiative declaring English the official language. If you can't speak English, then don't vote in our elections. If you're too lazy to learn how to speak, read or write English, then don't vote in our elections. English only on all ballots. English only in all business dealings in the state of California.
Like all things Savage, it's a bit crude and over the top. Kinda like Sammy Hagar giving an anti-Khomeini concert.
But, at the same time, there's a lot of truth in his platform, and, frankly, it's not full of shit like most of his opponents.
#4 I fully support. Twenty-seven states already have such laws in one form or another.
#1 I very strongly support, but whether the various traitorous forces would be able to prevent it being enforced would be an open question.
Likewise with #2.
As for #3, we might have a bit of a disagreement there. Many of the street people currently on the street are there because they were released from mental hospitals where they had previously been warehoused. I'm not in favor of letting truly mentally-ill people continue to live on the streets, neither am I in favor of warehousing them. And, I'm not in favor of getting someone who's not dangerous, but who's unsightly, off the street just because someone complains.
So, #3 needs a lot of work, and the others I support but they need to be, shall we say, slicked up a bit to make them palatable to moderates. Unfortunately, that's not something Savage is too very good at.
Posted at 10:12 PM | Comments (1)
Camejo for Governor!
Let this serve as official notice that the Lonewacko Blog is throwing its full support behind Peter Camejo (Green - Mars) for California Governor to replace Gray Davis. We need a Governor who cares about solar power, now that Jerry Brown is mayor of Oakland. Plus, just as important, Camejo was on the right side of the Iraq war, appearing at this demonstration to protest AmeriKKKa's hegemonic cultural and militaristic imperialistic Reichstag fire non-freed Mumia and non-freed Cuban Five ways.
Green Power!
Free Mumia!
Camejo 2003/2004!
Free the Cuban Five!
Sharpton/Kucinich 2004!
Posted at 09:31 PM | Comments (1)
July 23, 2003Transcript of Jackie Goldberg's big speech
A short transcript is here. (That's an 84kb PDF file). It doesn't have too much more damning than that already presented here. It does, however, confirm that the words uttered by Jackie were "Oh, shit."
Posted at 11:38 AM | Comments (0)
July 22, 2003The pain, up close and personal
Here's what "progressive" Democrat CA Assemblymember Jackie Goldberg says about the residents of California when she thinks no one is listening:
"Some of us are thinking that maybe people should see the pain up close and personal, right now."
That's from the SacBee story "Lawmakers' hush-hush talk broadcast live":
Unbeknown to them, a group of Assembly Democrats' private gab session about the state budget impasse -- including the political implications of accepting a Republican-driven spending plan without tax hikes -- was broadcast across the Capitol on Monday...
The lawmakers also discussed how the budget impasse would affect a planned ballot initiative that some Democrats are pressing. The initiative would ask voters to reduce the required threshold to approve a budget to 55 percent of the Legislature instead of the current two-thirds requirement. At least one legislator said that a longer delay would help the case for lowering the threshold.
"Since this is going to be a crisis, the crisis could be this year. No one's running, and maybe you end up better off than you would have, and maybe you don't. But what you do is you show people that you can't get to this without a 55 percent vote," said Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, D-Los Angeles...
"If the Republicans are gleeful that they caught us on tape, the discussion was open and frank, and frankly one that we need to have," [Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara] said. "It was really just sort of a brainstorming discussion."
Still, when someone finally informed the group that the conversation was being broadcast, Goldberg uttered a profanity and declared, "How could that happen?"
In contrast, the L.A. Daily News' report ("Republicans able to listen in on Democrat meeting") is not as damaging, but it includes this:
The impasse over the budget could also result in the public blaming Republicans for the state's fiscal crisis and ultimately could help Davis beat back the recall.
"All the polls suggest that if you don't have a budget, it lends itself to help support the effort for the 55 percent," one assemblyman said at the meeting. "Folks heading up the anti-recall effort say if they don't have a budget, it helps Democrats in the recall."
The San Jose Mercury News' report ("Overheard session causes squabble") is even wimpier, at just six paragraphs. However, it includes this laughable statement:
Goldberg criticized Republicans for recording the session and alerting reporters. ``That's the kind of stuff that makes you think there are no ethics in this place,'' she said.
However, in the Strangely Enough category, both the L.A. Times' report ("Democrats Discussed Extending Budget Crisis") and that from the S.F. Chronical ("Demos caught in budget gaffe
Open mike picks up faction's talk of profiting from a crisis") are lengthy and damaging to the "progressives."The LAT even names those in attendance:
Jackie
Fabian Nunez, Los Angeles ("We don't have economic power because we don't own the means of production")
Patti Berg, Eureka
Judy Chu, Monterey Park
Mervyn Dymally, Compton
Loni Hancock, Berkeley
Hannah-Beth Jackson, Santa Barbara
John Laird, Santa Cruz
John Longville, Rialto
Alan Lowenthal, Long Beach
Patricia Wiggins, Santa RosaPosted at 01:12 PM | Comments (2)
July 19, 2003Strut, Arianna, Strut
From "Arianna touted as recall alternative":
The possibility of the SUV-hating Arianna squaring off against the Hummer-loving Arnold for the right to replace Gov. Gray Davis is creating a buzz from San Francisco to Santa Monica. One eager supporter has already dubbed the potential matchup "The Hybrid vs. the Hummer..."
Leading the charge is Bay Area activist Van Jones, director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in San Francisco. Jones and the fledgling campaign are preparing to unveil their Web site, www.RunAriannaRun.com, to generate enthusiasm.
Posted at 01:47 PM | Comments (1)
June 25, 2003The OC Register's collection of recall articles
So far it's just a small collection. It includes a link to an online discussion board which is in dire need of an index rather than just a big page with all the comments on it.
I'm one to talk.Posted at 12:40 PM | Comments (0)
June 24, 2003What if Gray Davis resigns?
Even if he ends up resigning, Cruz Bustamante* would probably only be the temporary Governor; as long as all the other conditions of the recall had been met, the recall election would go forward, and the winner would be the new Governor.
That's discussed here, and the Elections Code Section in question says this:
11302.
If a vacancy occurs in an office after a recall petition is filed against the vacating officer, the recall election shall nevertheless proceed. The vacancy shall be filled as provided by law, but any person appointed to fill the vacancy shall hold office only until a successor is selected in accordance with Article 4 (commencing with Section 11360) or Article (commencing with Section 11380), and the successor qualifies for that office.*Bustamante is a former member of the racial separatist organization Mecha.
Posted at 02:01 PM | Comments (0)
June 15, 2003"this recall is going nowhere"
From this:
Darrell Issa, a Republican congressman trying to become California's next governor by financing a recall campaign against Democratic Gov. Gray Davis, on Saturday suggested the GOP unite by nominating a single candidate to seek the governorship and by focusing on the state's $38.2 billion budget shortfall instead of rigid ideology...
Before a recall election can be held, supporters must submit to the state nearly 900,000 valid signatures of voter support by September.
Issa, whose $800,000 in contributions has fueled pro-recall group Rescue California, told the audience that more than 700,000 signatures already have been collected. Less than half that had been submitted to elections officials as of last week...
Told Friday about the wine country retreat, Davis' message to Issa was, "Have a good time. But this recall is going nowhere..."
In his remarks, Issa suggested state party leaders hold a convention to narrow what could be a large field of GOP contenders that might include actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, state Sen. Tom McClintock of Simi Valley, last year's GOP gubernatorial nominee, Bill Simon, and former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan [and Issa himself]...
Asked by reporters to be more specific, [President Bush's point man in California, businessman Gerald Parsky] said, "A Republican governor in California would be helpful. A Democratic governor is not helpful. Whether that Democratic governor is Gray Davis or another Democrat, that's not helpful."
And, from this:
Davis says the movement is being pushed by a bunch of losers.
He says he won the governor's race last November fair and square.
Posted at 11:08 AM | Comments (0)
May 29, 2003The evil in front of you
From "Davis makes pre-emptive strike on recall camp":
Although Davis denied it, his visit [to the Morongo Indian Reservation near Palm Springs] appeared to be a pre-emptive move. Morongo and other wealthy, politically powerful tribes are being courted by the Davis recall campaign. While none has signed on so far, at least publicly, that's a prospect the governor clearly wants to avoid...
But the governor and his political handlers undoubtedly were aware that Morongo had hosted a recent meeting of tribal leaders at the behest of Rep. Darrell Issa of Vista, a Republican who has made a growing, six-figure investment in the recall.
Morongo tribal Chairman Maurice Lyons acknowledged the meeting took place, but said only four tribes participated. Other tribal leaders also have confirmed the meeting, during which Issa appealed for their financial support – reportedly $100,000 per tribe. Representatives of the recall committee could not be reached for comment yesterday...
"We said no. We're not going to get involved with the recall efforts," [San Manuel tribal Chairman Deron Marquez] said. "There is something to be said about knowing the evil in front of you. We know what we're going to get with Governor Davis."
Posted at 11:16 AM | Comments (0)
May 26, 2003Gray Davis, running scared
According to this:
the Davis administration will announce that Steve Smith will leave his government post as secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency to work on anti-recall activities.
Smith is no ordinary bureaucrat chipping in for the cause. He is one of Davis' few longtime political allies -- a top adviser who played integral roles in the 1998 gubernatorial campaign and the 2002 re-election effort. He's one of the guys on those morning conference calls that include the governor, political adviser Garry South and pollster Paul Maslin.
That column has an even more interesting bit about Shawn Steel's "anti-Islam" remarks; see the next post.
Posted at 12:18 PM | Comments (0)
May 21, 2003"[CA] monitored war protesters"
"State monitored war protesters: Intelligence agency does not distinguish between terrorism and peace activism" describes a CA state agency that collects information on terrorist and "terrorist" groups. It includes plenty of damning quotes:
"You can make an easy kind of a link that, if you have a protest group protesting a war where the cause that's being fought against is international terrorism, you might have terrorism at that (protest)," said Van Winkle, of the state Justice Department. "You can almost argue that a protest against that is a terrorist act..."
...Said Van Winkle: "I've heard terrorism described as anything that is violent or has an economic impact, and shutting down a port certainly would have some economic impact. Terrorism isn't just bombs going off and killing people."
The ACLU is on the case. Oh, by the way:
In fact, [the California Anti-Terrorism Information Center] -- touted as a national model for intelligence sharing and a centerpiece of Gov. Gray Davis and Attorney General Bill Lockyer's 2002 re-election bids
(via Hit and Run)
Posted at 08:16 PM | Comments (0)
April 29, 2003"Mexican ID Card Measure Goes to Senate"
From the LAT:
SACRAMENTO — Identification cards issued by Mexico, already accepted by Los Angeles and 14 other local governments in California, would have to be honored by all cities and counties under a bill that cleared the Assembly on Monday.
Proponents say widespread acceptance of the cards would make it easier for Mexican citizens living in California to open bank accounts, get marriage licenses, use libraries and respond to routine traffic stops by police.
"This bill will benefit thousands of Mexican nationals," said Assemblyman Manny Diaz (D-San Jose), author of AB 522...
Assemblyman Dennis Mountjoy (R-Monrovia) urged a no vote, calling the bill "another way of giving amnesty to illegal aliens in California."
But Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia (R-Cathedral City) said: "It doesn't matter how they got here..."
Those who would benefit most from the bill cannot vote today, Garcia told her colleagues, but "in the future they're going to remember whether you let them live with dignity..."
Some Senator's emails are at this page.
Other emails not listed on the preceding page can be found by going to each Senator's page from here. I'd just use 'Senator.NAME@sen.ca.gov', and if it bounced look it up.
[For background, see the list of links here.]
UPDATE: This list of contributions to "Manny Diaz for Assembly" might be useful. It includes companies like PG&E, Intel, and Microsoft. Perhaps we should ask them, "Do you support illegal immigration?"
Posted at 11:26 AM | Comments (3)
I haven't written to Dianne Feinstein lately, have I?
Got this via email from Feinstein's office:
April 29, 2003
Mr. The Lonewacko Blog at lonewacko.com/blog
Dear Mr. Blog at lonewacko.com/blog:
Thank you so much for contacting me to share your thoughts and concerns. Currently, I receive approximately 30,000 letters and e-mails a week. This is input that I value greatly...
I guess some wacky prankster sent the good Senator a letter on my behalf, no doubt because of this post. Instapundit linked to that post, generating thousands of hits, including one of a very special person. If that very special person sent the Senator a nastygram on my behalf, no doubt the Senator's people will be able to figure that out and will track down their IP address as necessary.
Posted at 10:50 AM | Comments (0)
April 22, 2003"Army Contract Has Ties To Senator Feinstein"
From this:
— A planning and engineering firm co-owned by Senator Dianne Feinstein's husband has won a Pentagon contract that could be worth up to 600 (m) million dollars...
Feinstein's husband, Richard Blum, serves on the company's board of directors. He controls about 24 percent of its stock.
The new contract is the latest lucrative defense job to be won by the San Francisco-based company. In February, it was awarded an Army contract that could be worth more than three (b) billion dollars.
And, from this:
California's senior U.S. senator made it clear Tuesday that she will not support any more tax cuts. Speaking to a room full of technology executives and elected officials in San Jose, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat from San Francisco, called any further tax cuts irresponsible...
"It's going to take at least five years for the United States to help Iraq recover," she said...
In response to questions from reporters, Ms. Feinstein said she had no knowledge of the contract that was awarded by the Army to a company owned in part by her husband Richard Blum...
"We keep what he does and what I do completely separate," Ms. Feinstein said.
Posted at 03:58 PM | Comments (13)
April 10, 2003"Schwarzenegger and Maybe Rice Weigh California Race"
According to this, Ahnold recently met with Karl Rove.
Posted at 02:17 PM | Comments (0)
March 12, 2003Gray Davis has figured out a way to get us out of the mess he created
ColdFury links to this SacBee story:
Lawyers for Gov. Gray Davis and state Controller Steve Westly announced an agreement Monday that ended a weeks-long impasse over midyear budget cuts and could lead to a tripling of the annual vehicle license fee -- without a vote of the Legislature or the public.
Posted at 01:25 PM | Comments (0)
March 07, 2003'Effort to recall Davis dealt a pair of setbacks'
More here:
In a blow to the fledgling campaign to recall Democratic Gov. Gray Davis, California's pre-eminent Republican signature-gathering firm will not help sign up voters for fear of poisoning its relationships with other clients...
In the second development, lawyers for California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley told Costa that he must make at least 23 revisions to his proposed recall documents before he can begin collecting the 900,000 voter signatures needed to hold a special election to determine Davis' fate...
Costa was determined to press on despite both disappointments.
Posted at 03:49 PM | Comments (0)
February 06, 2003Governor Ahnold
Here's more on the effort to recall Gray Davis.
Posted at 03:12 PM | Comments (0)
February 05, 2003Recall Gray Davis?
This group wants to do that, but they need 898,000 valid signatures. I'll have to look into this in more detail later.
Posted at 03:07 PM | Comments (15)
January 24, 2003"Oracle grand jury session canceled"
Posted at 11:57 AM | Comments (0)
January 16, 2003"Attorney General begins grand jury probe of Oracle deal"
Details here:
A grand jury will begin taking testimony Tuesday about the state's now-rescinded computer software contract with the Oracle Corp., and a key lawmaker is predicting the probe will result in criminal charges....
The contract, a six-year, $95 million deal with an option for a four-year extension, was supposed to save the state more than $100 million through volume purchases and maintenance of database software.
But the state auditor said the contract, put together in about three weeks, could cost the state as little as $6 million or as much as $41 million more than if it had stuck to its previous software supply arrangements.
Oracle made a $25,000 campaign contribution to Gov. Gray Davis five days after the contract was signed in 2001. Both the governor and the company said there was no link between the donation and the contract, but Davis decided to return the money....
Committee members said at the very least the state's evaluation of the contract was flawed. Some members had harsher conclusions, suggesting the contract was the result of political influences or even a ``culture of corruption.''
Posted at 10:52 PM | Comments (0)
December 08, 2002All park rangers, professors, and CHP officers must be fired immediately!
As this article points out:
With its huge economy stalled and state revenues plunging, California has descended into its worst budget crisis in a decade and is now facing an excruciating round of budget cuts and possible tax increases... "That's a hole so deep and so vast that even if we fired every single person on the state payroll — every park ranger, every college professor and every Highway Patrol officer — we would still be more than $6 billion short," said the Assembly speaker, Herb J. Wesson Jr., a Democrat.
I just hope and pray that Alondra is not inconvenienced in any way.
Posted at 11:18 PM | Comments (0)
November 04, 2002Who you should vote for
It's very simple: I'm voting a straight Republican ticket, and I'm probably voting No on every Proposition and Measure.
Why? While I can't stand Republicans personally at about the same level as I can't stand Democrats/liberals personally, I think the Republicans are not so much my enemy as the Dems. We Angry White Male Loners are more or less excluded from the Democratic party, and find a bit of a home with the Repugs. The other parties have no chance, and the Repugs need all the help they can get.
I'm specifically voting against Bustamante for a reason that few "mainstream" commentators mention or perhaps even know about: his past membership in Mecha. For one view of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, see this article.
Cruz says he wasn't "the most radical Mechista." I assume that means he's not as far out as this guy. There are a lot of documents here. I only looked at a few, none of which he wrote and all of which are historical. Here's another article about a (perhaps) even more extreme group.
I'm voting NO on Proposition 52, as described here. I'm voting NO on Proposition 51 as well.
As far as the judges are concerned, I don't know anything about any of them, but I'll ask my lawyer what he thinks.
I'm probably voting NO on Proposition 46: after reading the full text here, I see what looks like many opportunities for porkage and losing money down various rabbit holes.
I'm probably voting NO on Proposition 47; more bond money, plus for the cruel and calculated reason that perhaps if the schools get too overcrowded someone might finally decide to do something about illegal immigration.
NO on Proposition 50, once again because it's a new bond, and also for some of the same reasons that Prop. 51 is unattractive: the porkiness of it all.
I'm voting NO on Measure A (L.A. County only). If they can raise matching funds, they can do the work cheaper without the need for funds from the state. $98 million to earthquake-proof the Natural History Museum? How much pork is there in that figure?
The only reason I'd vote yes on Measure B (L.A. County only) is because I consider it bad luck to vote no. I might need one of the closed centers one of these days. However, I'll probably vote NO a) to encourage better budgeting, and b) to show the drain that illegal immigration has on the economy.
Posted at 10:57 PM | Comments (0)
October 20, 2002Now, onto Prop. 51
I find it difficult to agree with state Senator Kevin Murray. You know, Mr. Driving While Black. Er, better make that Driving While Black or Brown. Er, how about Driving While Being A Person of Color? But, will that include Asians or not? (Shortly after Kevin's non-prostitute-related incident, I sent him an email about how I had been stopped by the BevHills cops mainly because I was driving a cheap car and despite me being completely Aryan. He never responded.)
Anyways, Kev had this to say to the author of Proposition 51: "The question is why aren't you in jail?"
While I wouldn't go quite that far, the author has admitted to trading campaign contributions to the Yes on 51 campaign in exchange for heaping big slices of pork from said Proposition.
You can see a chart of what contributions were made, and what was given in return here.
For instance, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians donated $500,000 and got a $120 million rail line to their casino in return.
On the other hand, Proposition 51 has some backers with which I'm somewhat familiar, such as North East Trees, the River Center (presumably the L.A. River Center) and the LA Bicycle Coalition (presumably the LA County Bicycle Coalition).
On the other hand, they also roll out the "it's for the kids" gambit. Because of that, and because of the pork, I think I'll vote with Kev on this one.
Posted at 11:28 PM | Comments (0)
NO on Prop. 52
Proposition 52 would allow you to register to vote on the day of an election. All you'd need to do to vote would be to show up on election day with either a CA driver's license or two pieces of mail in your name, and you could vote. Not only that, your (possibly fraudulent) vote would be mixed in with all the other votes, so there would be no way to, ahem, unring the bell.
The TV ads in favor of 52 say that this would solve those horrible, extremely prevalent cases where "those who turn 18 or move a few weeks before an election could be deprived of the right to vote." As soon as I heard that, I knew something else was afoot. That something else could be a) voting by illegal immigrants and other non-citizens, and b) the CA version of that good ol' Chicago saying, "vote early and often."
Proponents also tell us that "states with laws like Prop 52 lead the nation in voter turnout." Those states are: ID, ME, MN, NH, WI, and WY. Those states are not exactly on the front lines of illegal immigration, and their high turnout is probably due more to historical habits than same-day registration.
Check out both sites, and decide for yourself. I suggest you vote NO, but if you decide to vote yes, be aware you're on the same side as Danny Glover and Antonio Villaraigosa.
Posted at 10:04 PM | Comments (2)
October 03, 2002Gray and Friends
Why, look! It's hopefully-soon-to-be-former governor Gray Davis with his friends the President of the U.S. and Sparky, the "Please wait" mascot for the CA ISO!
It shouldn't come as much of a surprise that Gray's TV commercials have factual inaccuracies. If you want to read a few of them, KCET's Life and Times did a "Reality Check" of some of the statements made in one of his commercials, as you can see by searching for "VAL>> PHEW" here.
Can you imagine what I could do if I had Photoshop and hadn't had to put this together using paint.exe?Don't you hate it when pages take so long to load, especially for crap pics like this?OK, so Sparky's not exactly a well-known figure, unless, like me, you've written software for the exciting energy generation and distribution industry. If you want to see Sparky live, go to http://oasis.caiso.com/, click the Ancillary tab, click the upper left radio button in the table, and click submit. If you get an error, adjust the dates. I'll explain PORs and PODs at our next meeting.Posted at 10:54 PM | Comments (0)
September 23, 2002Gray Davis: V for Victory!
In his latest TV commercial, Gray Davis gives the backwards "V for Victory" sign. If you're not familiar with that particular obscene gesture, see the "palm-back v sign" section.
In his commercial, he's of course not making the sign intentionally, and he doesn't make it with quite the same enthusiasm as the guy at the web page above. It's in the last shot of "RESTORE" when he's standing at the podium, available here.
Could this be a subtle subliminal comment from his handlers? "You know you're getting screwed, and you know you like it. So, vote for the bastard."
As a final subliminal hand gesture, perhaps Gray should hold his hand out palm-up.
I sent this tip to Mickey Kaus, but he was too wrapped up in Raines bashing and welfare reform (zzzzzz) to print it.Posted at 09:17 PM | Comments (0)
