This November, there are many reasons to vote no on most of the initiatives that will be presented to California’s voters. Proposition 1C sells bonds for housing. This is one where I say let the feds handle it—if they are stupid enough to keep HUD’s doors open—let them run low income housing projects. Not only won’t we have to pay for it through bonds, but fewer and fewer people will want to live in these projects and be motivated to get out. Proposition 1 D sells bonds for education, didn’t we just pass one of those? Proposition 86 is brilliant. Tax poor people (who make up the majority of smokers) and use the money to fund their healthcare. The more intellectually honest approach to the health concerns that surround smoking would be to ban… Read More

For a second I actually considered entitling this post after a Dickens’ novel, but that would’ve been too obvious. Suffice it to say that both Escondido and National City have received much attention in recent weeks for the polar opposite directions they are taking on the issue of illegal immigration.

National City Mayor Nick Inzunza has garnered headlines for his announcement that he would declare a "Sanctuary City" for illegal aliens, which he simply refers to as immigrants (see my prior posts). Yesterday, Inzunza signed the sanctuary proclamation (SDUT story), while — on the advice of law enforcement, apparently in no mood to try to protect him — he was holed up in city hall during another protest rally outside. This was the second such rally in two weeks, with illegal immigrant apologists… Read More

Yesterday after Congress voted to finally build a fence between the United States and Mexico the reaction from the Mexican government was fairly predictable. Mexican President called the fence “shameful” and referenced the Berlin Wall. Note to President Fox: I think its rather more shameful to have a police chief of a major city gunned down in public, again. Work on your own security issues a bit before taking the time to carp about our nation dealing with ours. But I do appreciate your apt reference to the Berlin Wall. After all, on one side America guaranteed freedom. On the other corrupt dictators misruled their nations to the point where folks would do anything to get out.… Read More

The Governor gave his veto stamp to Gil Cedllo’s SB 160, which would have given illegals grants to attend state colleges. See veto message here.

The Gov is done with all the bills. I’m know I fell better. I remember saying at the beginning os the year, that I would fell better if we just had these 910 bills signed into law. You can see the rest last bit here.

Arnold did sign a bill to give marriage tax breakx to gay couples. And he vetoed attempts to legalize hemp and ban ultrasounds.… Read More

UPDATE: The Governor VETOED this bill!

One of the last Big Name bills still needinga veto is the trashing of the Electoral College via AB 2948, a scheme that would circumvent the carefully planned and balanced approach the Founders brought and intended for ournation’s presidential elections. California would be the first of a syndicate of as few as 11 states that could defy the voters of their state and allocate their Electoral votes opposite of the result of their state’s election and decide the Presidency. If you want a recipe to feed the "why bother to vote" sentiment, this would surely be a key ingredient.

Those thatthink the rural states or rural areas of states are "flyover" country now, wait til candidates only have to campaign in a handfulof "syndicate states" where they can add up 270 electoral votes or gain 50% + 1 of the nations popular vote.

Thinking that this plan will change behavior of candidates to visit areas they don’t now defies logic and reality. Candidates willalways campaign especiallyin areas where they believethey… Read More

As I sit down (at midnight) to write the commentary for Saturday, I’m having a hard time caring about anything other than whether or not the L.A. Dodgers make it into post-season play, having just returned from a nail-biter at AT&T Park where the Dodgers eked out a 4-3 win to keep their post-season chances alive. But I think I’ll get a note from Jon Fleishman if I subject FR readers to a commentary analyzing my team’s chances of making to the playoffs. Back to the reality of state politics…

Today is the last day of bill signing for the governor. I’m sure his legislative staff has their bubbly on ice, since they’ve worked long and hard all year, especially in these last few weeks. Personally, I’m glad that bill signing is wrapping up, ending the guessing game about what action the Governor would take on… Read More

As I sit down (at midnight) to write the commentary for Saturday, I’m having a hard time caring about anything other than whether or not the L.A. Dodgers make it into post-season play, having just returned from a nail-biter at AT&T Park where the Dodgers eked out a 4-3 win to keep their post-season chances alive. But I think I’ll get a note from Jon Fleishman if I subject FR readers to a commentary analyzing my team’s chances of making to the playoffs. Back to the reality of state politics…

Today is the last day of bill signing for the governor. I’m sure his legislative staff has their bubbly on ice, since they’ve worked long and hard all year, especially in these last few weeks. Personally, I’m glad that bill signing is wrapping up, ending the guessing game about what action the Governor would take on… Read More

The public relations armada behind the Governor is very impressive. When he wants the world to know he is doing something, there are media events, e-mails and faxes out that kazoo, conference calls with reporters, and the spin team is out in force. You know when a PR blitz is taking place with Arnold Schwarzenegger. As a matter of fact, it happens almost every day.

I can tell you that I have I have rolled my eyes on many occasions lately, because it seems that in so many cases, when Arnold lurches to the middle (over over-shoots and just plain moves over to the left) on an issue, they make a huge deal out of it. The ‘production value’ on his signing of the wage mandate on employers was bettered even more by his recent greenhouse gas abatement tour of California, signing bills on Treasure Island (with British PM Tony Blair on hand via satellite) and down in LA, in coastal Malibu.

Then when the Governor happens to do some good things that conservatives like me would like, it often times takes place with a whisper.

I am sure that there is a lot of ‘targeting’ going on in terms of the audience to which the Governor is trying… Read More