FLASHREPORT

A myriad of opinions on the City of San Diego sales tax increase... In economic hard times, the measure will appear on the November ballot, because the city is also having a hard time and needs those in pain to share some more:

U-T editorial: City Hall rolls the dice -- Reform-and-tax plan headed for ballot is high-stakes gamble

Voice of San Diego: What Caused San Diego's Ballooning Pension Payment? by Vlad Kogan

SD Rostra: Our Own Microcosm of Freedom vs. Tyranny: The City Hall Machine vs. The Rest of Us

SD Rostra: Top 10 Flaws in the San Diego Sales Tax Hike by Carl DeMaio

Read all of SD Rostra's entries on the tax machinations

One City says No to a Sales Tax... With 3/4 of the city council supporting a sales tax measure in the City of Lemon Grove, one might think that would land it on the ballot.  Not so, as Councilmember Mary England was the lone -- and decisive -- no vote:

The story in SD Rostra (which had the newsbeat)

The Union-Trib's take

A Candidate for All... I'll leave you with this YouTube hilarity, as the Whitest Kids U'Know hi-lites senate hopeful "Cint Webb."  Hat tip to Richard Rider:

http://sdrostra.com/?p=7319

Have a great week!

I've seen some pretty sorry stuff in politics over the years, but this has to be one of the sorriest.

Nick Popaditch is a proud Marine with a Silver Star and a Purple Heart.  He's also the Republican nominee for Congress against incumbent Bob Filner in California's 51st District, covering portions of South San Diego County and all of Imperial County. In a district with a significant Democratic registration advantage, many would say Popaditch has an uphill battle in November.

His chances of winning office are a far different analysis and discussion, however, than whether it's fair game for a major newspaper in the district to make a mockery of war injuries Popaditch sustained in Iraq, during the battle of Fallujah.  (See the editorial cartoon below.)

Free press?  Yes.  A media embarrassment?  That too.  You be the judge.

Read the letter below...

Saturday's edition of the Imperial Valley Press (El Centro, CA.  Editor Brad Jennings 760-337-3425, editor@ivpressonline.com) featured a cartoon that mocks the combat wounds Nick Popaditch suffered in service to our country and nearly took his life.  I have attached a youtube link which contains video of Nick, crawling out of his tank after being hit by a RPG in the head and a scan of the cartoon.   I realize Nick is running for a political office and political cartoons are the norm.  Attack him on his political views, not on injuries he sustained while fighting for other people's freedom and liberties.  I am incensed that the IVP would choose to use combat wounds as satire. This is not just an insult to Nick, but an affront to every Purple Heart recipient.  People need to know this story, and the IVP must be called into the court of public opinion to insure that the media gets the message: we will not tolerate any of our combat wounded to be ridiculed for any reason.

Sincerely,

Cheryl Perez, President
Ladies Auxiliary, Military Order of The Purple Heart
San Diego, Unit 49

YouTube video of Popaditch - A must watch

The irony here? Read this portion of Congressman Filner's bio, from his website...

In January 2007, Congressman Filner became Chairman of the House of Representatives Veterans' Affairs Committee.  He has achieved a national reputation for his work on behalf of our nation's veterans, both current veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and more elderly veterans from the Vietnam and Korean wars and World War II.  He led the fight to restore honor and benefits to the Filipino Veterans and Merchant Mariners of World War II.

Regardless of whether the Imperial Valley Press is embarrassed into apologizing to veterans everywhere (see contact info above...hint, hint), is if Filner -- given his record on behalf of vets -- will denounce the cartoon?

How about it, Bob?

Yesterday, a court ruled that the uncounted 12,500 ballots in Riverside County, which arrived late to the Registrar through no fault of the voters, will be tallied.  The Riverside Registar of Voters staff immediately started working, doing so throughout the night, posting the lastest update at 6:00 a.m. this morning.

Juan Vargas picked up a net of 10 votes since the ruling, with his lead over Mary Salas "jumping" from 12 to 22 votes.

Of the 12,500 remaining ballots in Riverside, Jim Sills at San Diego Rostra is estimating that approximately 450 of them are Democratic ballots in Senate District 40.

Here's all the info at Rostra.

The "Incredible Shrinking San Diego Union-Tribune" has been the topic of a blog or two of mine in the past, although not recently. The reasons for the newspaper's reduction in size have become pretty well known, so no new news is not news...or something like that.

Yet, while relaxing over the holiday weekend, it did occur to me to take a look at the size of the Sunday edition of the U-T, just as a reference point, since the new management has now settled in, with another round of staff cuts following a few weeks ago.  Picking it up, sans advertising inserts, it felt about the same weight as when I had noted several months ago the paper had dwindled to 66 pages or so from about twice that size, if one doesn't count the classifieds.

But, there on the front page, under the index was the reference: 15 sections; 136 pages.  Really?

I decided to count the pages myself, so proceeded to place the sections in order and commenced...

Section A: World, National, State, Region News / Business - 16 pages

Section B: Our Region (Local) / Dialog (Opinion) - 8 pages

Section C: Uhhh, hmmm...there is no Section C.

Section D: Sports - 8 pages

Section E: Arts - 8 pages

Section F: Darn, I'm not finding this section either.

Section G: Passages - 8 pages

Section H: Also nowhere to be found.

Section I: Travel - 4 pages

Section J: Missing in action...meaning literally missing, not the name of the section.

Section K: Classifieds / Real Estate- 24 pages (I'll even be fair and count the classifieds this time.)

That's 76 pages, is it not?  

The number of pages aside for a moment, of the 11 supposed sections listed above, in my home-delivered addition four of them don't even exist sequentially, kind of like a bunch of thirteenth floors.  Very mysterious, if not superstitious.  

Someone didn't just steal my paper, they stole parts of my paper!

I waited until I got to the office this morning to look at another copy of the Sunday edition.  Wouldn't you know it, the culprit not only visited my house and removed Sections C, F, H and J from the newspaper while it sat in my driveway, but did it to my office-delivered edition as well!  What are the chances?

Okay, seriously, I'll buy that perhaps the U-T is counting Business and Dialog, which used to be clearly separate, as "official" sections. Maybe even the Comics and Parade Magazine count for another two.  Adding those additional four to the supposed sections listed above does get you to the 15 noted on the front page, until you subtract the four non-existent "ghost" sections. Still eleven.

What's more, even adding the 22 pages of Comics and Parade still only gets the paper up to 98 pages, not the 136 touted under the fold.

Surely, surely, the news staff isn't counting the separate Big 5, Ortho Mattress and Vons ads, commonly known as inserts, in the page or section total?  Well, come to think of it, they are separate "sections" and these ads in particular are certainly designed and printed to be the same width and height as the paper's other sections.  If the UT is counting them as "pages," this could be a first in the newspaper business.  Journalism history in the making.

Maybe the additional regular pile of insert ads makes the paper 136 pages. Another first.  But, I wouldn't know. They already went into the recycling.

As changes at the Union-Trib continue with last week's seventh round of staff layoffs, it appears no stone is being left unturned as management determines the future of the paper, including its online content.  Check out yesterday's entry by Chris Reed on America's Finest Blog...

Let's hope the mucketies at the paper find continued value in pushing the blog medium forward and allowing it to expand, not gutting it.  Reed's blog gives some unique political perspective and more of a cutting edge approach than can be found in the traditional broadsheet.

If anything has held AFB back from more of a following, it's been the U-T's lack of hi-liting and marketing it, so more readers would know it was there.

All of these things take money, of course, something not as abundant as a few years ago, especially in the world of newsprint.  However, the future of news is in the far less costly electrons of on-line content, as compared to paper and ink.

It would seem a step backwards to end a blog that takes the U-T in that direction.

Tuesday night the Valley News in Riverside erroneously reported that County Supervisor Jeff Stone defeated Assemblyman Joel Anderson for the 36th Senate District seat, apparently because the reporter was only looking at the Riverside portion of the results.

A new story has now been posted, without a trace of the incorrect report or a correction.

Here is the first part of the story that was...and wasn't...and now never existed:

Supervisor Stone declared winner in 36th Senate race 

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010
Issue 23, Volume 14

MURRIETA - Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone was the easy winner today in the race for the Republican nomination for the 36th Senate district seat being vacated by veteran lawmaker Dennis Hollingsworth, R- Murrieta.
He fended off competition from Assemblyman Joel Anderson, R-Alpine, Rancho San Diego pastor Greg Stephens and Murrieta attorney Kenneth Dickson.
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Photo thanks to Why we protest

For many of the same reasons so eloquently noted by Jon Fleischman today in his commentary, I support Joel Anderson for State Senate.  That should come as no surprise to anyone.  Joel and I have been friends for many years.

Yet, I have many friends in politics that I would not necessarily endorse for office.  It takes more than a warm body that happens to vote "correctly" to earn my support, especially at the state legislative level. It takes a fighter who understands just what this state is facing and how to turn it around, as well as someone who has the personal skills and tenacity to try to get it accomplished, instead of just being a "no" vote.  That also means having such a philosophy all of the time, not just when it fits the polling or the climate.

I fear — no, I know — that some of those currently running at the highest levels in this state would be no different philosophically than the current governor if the polls said differently.  A sad reality.

Joel Anderson is not part of that sad reality.  He has a vision for the long-term solution.

Best wishes to Joel tomorrow.

It's that time again.  Stop what you are doing and take a stab.  Send your picks to me here. (do not post them as a comment).  

Deadline is 7:55 p.m. on June 8 (or anytime before).

Winners will be announced after the election, when I can get to it, or later in the case of any hand counts or other chads-like determinations by the Registrar, especially if followed by protracted lawsuits and court battles.

The contest victors get the ultimate prize - their fellow hacks' amazement at their prowess.

On yes, in the past, some FR readers have complained that this contest is too "San Diego oriented."  Well, yes, I do write about San Diego area politics.  It is your choice to participate.  Or not.

So, here we go, eleven questions and a couple of tie-breakers, if needed...

1. Chula Vista Fair and Open Competition Initiative: Will Measure G win or lose?

2. Oceanside Charter City question: Will Measure K win or lose?

3. Poway (two part question, must get them both correct):

a) Will Betty Rexford be recalled from office, yes or no?

b) Name the candidate to win the "replacement question" on the ballot (regardless of "a").

4. Sheriff Race - Name the candidate to place SECOND in the primary.

5. State Senate - SD 40: Who will win the Dem primary, Mary Salas or Juan Vargas?

6. State Senate - SD 36: Name the candidate to win the Rep primary, Anderson, Dickson, Stephens, or Stone.

7. State Assembly - AD 77: Name the candidate to win the Rep primary, Jones, Rubin or Wells.

8. San Diego Council District Six - Name the top TWO finishers, IN ORDER of finish.

9. San Diego Council District Eight - Name the primary winner.

10. County: Will any candidate in either race force a run off against Bill Horn or Ron Roberts, yes or no (no need to name a candidate)?

11. San Diego Strong Mayor Question - Will Measure D win or lose?

Tiebreaker A (if needed) - Sheriff Race: Will there be a November run off, yes or no?

Tiebreaker B (if needed, closest to the mark) - What percentage of the vote will the question of County Supervisor Term Limits garner (Measure B)?

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"Potetentially" Helpful Resources:

• Ballotpedia on Ballot Measures for San Diego County, California
• San Diego County Registrar's Candidate List
• San Diego City Clerk's Candidate List
  

A Sunday potpourri from around the region...

Kudos to SDCTA -- and a Must Watch "Save the Chargers" Video... Thursday night's San Diego County Taxpayers Association Golden Watchdog and Fleece Awards dinner was attended by over 800, who clearly see it as one of the best annual events in the region.  SDCTA has an uncanny ability to get otherwise cautiously stodgy elected officials to loosen up on video with gems they normally wouldn't be caught dead saying or doing anywhere -- at least not on purpose -- all for a good laugh and the spectacle of the evening.  The "Chargers Stadium Disaster Relief Telethon" is an absolute classic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RH78d2DEQbQ

Here's also a retrospective of past years' video hi-lights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nNRygKUAMk

Lastly, a press release announcing all the winning taxpayer watchdogs and fleecers for the year:

http://www.sdcta.org/Uploads/Documents/Final%202010%20SDCTA%20Award%20Winners%205-2-10,%20LL.pdf
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Senate District 36 Watch... As a follow up to last Sunday's column on the race for the Dennis Hollingsworth seat, I noted the next day that Assemblyman Anderson announced Tom McClintock's backing.

The McClintock name resonates well with the conservatives in this seat, nearly as much as the Schwarzenegger name did during the gubernatorial recall election, before voters realized they should have supported the former instead of the latter.

Anderson also rolled out the endorsement of San Diego City Attorney and former Assemblyman Jan Goldsmith this past week.  The mail and electronic media have started, with Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone the first to take a swipe in the race ... against Anderson.  This will undoubtedly mean a no holds barred contest.  Can you say Donnybrook?
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CapWeekly Focuses on San Diego Races... Capitol Weekly says the SD 36 contest noted above and the 77th Assembly District race to succeed Anderson are among the "primary contests to watch on Election Day."

Yes, we already knew that.  Here are the pertinent sections of the piece...

AD 77 - This seat came open two years early when Assemblyman Joel Anderson, R-La Mesa, decided to mount a bid for state Senate. Another three-way race, this one includes El Cajon City Councilman Bill Wells; Brian Jones, a Santee City Councilman; and Christine Rubin, a former staffer for Senator Mark Wyland, R-Escondido. Wells appears to have the most endorsements, including the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, though Rubin is well-connected and boasts the support of several sitting GOP legislators. Jones has some local support, but may have made some enemies in 2008 when he attempted to take on local Rep. Duncan Hunter in his own primary; he lost by 56 points.

SD 36 - Assemblyman Joel Anderson has his hands full with Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone in this race to replace Dennis Hollingsworth. Anderson has proven to be a crackerjack fundraiser during his time in Sacramento. But he ran afoul of the Fair Political Practices Commission for allegedly funneling money through county parties into his campaign. Stone has come under fire for money his sister has received from Stone's campaign warchest, and receiving use of a county car.
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Conservatives Target Judicial Seats... Jon Fleischman included it on the main page yesterday, but in case you missed Saturday's Union-Trib piece, here you go:

'Moral vote' group targets four judicial seats

Or, if for some reason you'd prefer to go right to the group's website, have at it:

http://www.bettercourtsnow.com/

In judge races where the incumbency factor has far outweighed anything else in determining winners, likely exceeding the win ratio for any other elected body, this effort may have an uphill battle.  However, donations have climbed since the March 17 mark of $1,930 raised, especially given the "earned media" garnered by Better Courts Now.  As well, that attention has driven many conservative voters to the website to help them fill out their ballots.

In the June election, the Better Courts effort may be more a test of the power of media attention and word of mouth among interested voters, then it is the about significant contributions and resulting mail and media buys.

Whether that's enough or not, watch for this effort to continue to build its base of support and increase its influence in the future.

Local Pastor Chris Clark penned a great U-T editorial on Better Courts, which ran a few days ago.
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Chris Reed's Interview with John Eastman: A Focus on Jerry Brown, CalPERS Kickbacks and Shamelessness... AG candidate John Eastman visited with the Union-Trib's Chris Reed on KOGO AM-600 radio Thursday night, resulting in shades of what may be a significant campaign topic for Guv hopeful Jerry Brown heading into November.

Read Reed's take on America's Finest Blog.
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Have an outstanding Sunday and a great week!

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Not that we typically simply post press releases, but this is significant news, especially considering the philosophical make-up of the conservative 36th Senate District and the high regard area voters have for Tom McClintock...

Congressman Tom McClintock Endorses Joel Anderson for State Senate 

Most influential conservative in California says Anderson is the "kind of conservative we need to shake up the State Senate"

EL CAJON - California's leading Conservative icon - Congressman Tom McClintock - has endorsed Assemblyman Joel Anderson for Senate District 36.

McClintock spent 22 years in the State Legislature before being elected to represent the 4th Congressional District in Washington D.C. He stands alone as the most popular conservative elected official in California.

"Assemblyman Joel Anderson is a proven conservative who will say no to bloated deficit budgets, Sacramento's irresponsible spending and higher taxes. That's why I am joining with Congressman Duncan Hunter and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers' Association in supporting Joel for State Senate," said McClintock.

Congressman McClintock is the gold-standard for conservative endorsements in California.  McClintock's endorsement was a key component to Assemblyman Anderson's 2006 victory in Assembly District 77.

 "While he served in the State Senate, Tom and I worked side-by-side to stop the irresponsible spending in Sacramento, end deficit budgets and secure our border. I'm proud to have served with Tom in the legislature and honored to have his support in this campaign," said Anderson.

Anderson seeks to replace termed out Senator Dennis Hollingsworth to represent San Diego and Riverside Counties in the 36th Senate District. Anderson has been endorsed by leading conservatives Congressman Duncan Hunter, Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and the California Republican Assembly.

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