Now that a month has passed since the defeat of the Governor’s reform ballot measures (Props. 74, 75, 76, and 77), it may be a good time to begin a frank policy discussion about whether the initiative power should be itself reformed.

Back when the initiative power was added to the California Constitution, its purpose was to provide the people of the state with a direct way to implement public policy without having to go through the state legislature and governor to make needed reforms. The idea was that if special interests had a stranglehold on the state legislature, meaningful reform could still be implemented by direct democracy. How things have changed. Now, the initiative power is a virtual cash cow for political consultants and election lawyers (your humble author included) who often create from whole-cloth initiative proposals for the sole purpose of creating issues that give candidates a way to distinguish themselves from each other (recall Proposition 187), to advance a client’s singular interest (such as Propositions 79 and 80), or to provide a source of income in off-year elections. [Yes, I know I am cynical.]

Its not… Read More

"Gilchrist indicated that his next political opponent could be Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif). He said running for a federal position might be in his future." — Daily Pilot, December7, 2005 Here’s some free advice for Jim Gilchrist: don’t do it.

When he’s not denying he is a one-issue candidate, Gilchrist has declared the purpose of his candidacy is to make Washington crack down on illegal immigration. His candidacy was successful in making a powerful point about that issue. If Gilchrist is sincere that his crusade is about his issue and not his ego, I suggest he channel that 25% showing back into his Minuteman Movement. That would keep the focus on his issue, rather than himself. The more focus is on the latter, the more the discussion is about his…eccentricities and past irregulaties, to the detriment of the issue he cares about.

As Gilchrist told the media last week, John Campbell is a gentlemen. Campbell, for the most part,… Read More

As tomorrow’s clemency hearing for Stanley Tookie Williams approaches, brace yourself for some serious spin from the anti-death penalty crowd: redemption, mercy and the public’s queasiness over sending Williams to his maker.

The guess here: "Save Tookie" advocates will try to convince the press that Californians are having second thoughts not just about this case, but capital punishment in general.

I’ve done some research on this, and the numbers are interesting.

1) In a March 2004 Field Poll, 68% of Californians said they’re pro-death penalty. That was down four points from its 72% support in 2002, but 5% higher than its 63% support in 2000.

2) At no point in the past 35 years, according to Field, has death-penalty support fallen below 58%; over that same period,its opposition has never climbed higher than 34% (that was in 1971).

3) From 2000-2004, opposition to the death penalty actually decreased, from 30% to 26%.

The counter to all of this is that "only" 58% of Californians, in that same 2004 poll, believe that the death penalty is implemented in a just manner.… Read More

The furor over Susan Kennedy shows no signs of dying down, but this morning’s San Jose Mercury News reports on what may be another Democratic staffer-incuded headache for Schwarzenegger. Terry Tamminen, the governor’s cabinet secretary and top environmental advisor, opened for Al Gore at a Stanford event yesterday, in which the former VP spoke out against global warming. No problems there, as Schwarzenegger has already signed on to a host of pro-green legislation since taking office.

But the San Jose Mercury News reported that Tamminen delivered the "most politically biting jokes" of the day. And guess who Tamminen bit?

"Tamminen began his remarks by reading from a piece of paper he said was given to him by TV producer and environmental activist Laurie David: “The top five things President Bush says he will do to address global warming.” Among the satirical suggestions made by Tamminen: switching the power on Vice President Dick Cheney’s pacemaker to nuclear power, and invading Silicon Valley to secure more solar panels.

“The No. 1 thing President Bush says he will do to address global… Read More

OUTRAGE OVER SUSAN KENNEDY APPOINTMENT One of the advantages of publishing a website is that you get to make sure that your positions are very clearly articulated. Today in the Los Angeles Times, Robert Salladay has a story, Governor faces revolt in GOP. This article talks about an ever-growing angst within GOP grassroots activists and donors, all stemming from the ill-advised appointment of recalled Governor Gray Davis’ Chief of Staff, Susan Kennedy, a former Executive Director of the State Democrat Party, by Governor Schwarzenegger to run his administration.

Let me be very clear – I still remain supportive of this Governor. I believe that he has a lot that he wants to accomplish, much of which is in-line with the limited government, free-market principles of the Grand Ol’ Party. That said, I don’t have words to describe my dismay and disappointment at this… Read More

In my initial blog here several weeks ago, I asked for you to share those examples of “outside the box” ideas taking place in local government around the state. That invitation stands, by the way.

Case in point. Although it hit this morning’s Union-Tribune and was noted by a couple of local TV stations, the story was far more deserving of even broader attention: One of the state’s largest high school districts is looking at a proposal to go ALL charter, by adding 10 charter campuses to the one already in place.… Read More

State Senator John Campbell has won (absentee ballots show him ahead 53% to the Democrat’s 25% to Gilchrist’s 19%) today’s Special Election for California’s 48th Congressional District.

See live election results here. See OC Registrar of Voters live webcam here.

As the OC Blog points out, Gilchrist is running behind the Democrat. I guess the Minute Man has had his 15 already.… Read More

I’ve come across a talented young OC blogger at the always lively OC Blog, a fellow by the name of Robbie Haglund.

Since I’m still warm to the topic of John & Ken’s excesses, I’d like to reprint a comment Haglund posted on OC Blog regarding L.A.’s top-rated talk show hosts:

I just read the entry powerbluereport wrote. I have some simple questions for him regarding the content.

So for the record… you don’t believe that when John and Ken call Gilchrist a "Republican" that they are being a little misleading?

Do you also find it fine and dandy that they choose not to mention that Jim was invited to the Hugh Hewitt show, accepted, and then backed out scheduling a debate on the John and Ken show at the same time?… Read More