For almost as long as there has been a Congress, there has been an August recess. It’s origins can be traced to everything from a desire to go home and farm to a distaste for Washington’s oppressive summer heat in a era before air conditioning. Abraham Lincoln professed a particular loathing for the capital’s summer weather. In the 21st Century, the August recess is largely a time for members of Congress to meet face to face with the people we represent. Although Congress meets in Washington, the people are not. Spending longer periods of time at home reminds us of the needs and wants of those people in California or Texas or Ohio, rather than only the wants of those inside the beltway. We recessed just before 2:00am on Saturday morning after a rather frantic and productive week. Here are the two most significant pieces of legislation that passed during the days and nights that preceded that recess: Death Tax/Minimum Wage: Last year the House passed a full repeal of the death tax which failed to garner the requisite 60 votes in the Senate. Last month, I wrote about a compromise passed by the House to… Read More

Oakland residents woke up this morning to find out that three more homicides occured over the weekend, bringing the total to 81. Last year, Oakland saw 94 homicides for the entire year. If the killing occurs at the rate thus far for the year, the city will see its homicide rate almost double.

One of the killings was particularly tragic. According to the SF Chronicle, 18-year-old Anthony Butler, a Skyline High School student, was shot on Saturday afternoon. Apparently, two years ago, Butler’s older brother, Harold Butler Jr., was shot and killed at age 17 at an East Oakland liquor store in a neighborhood feud.

So, where’s Jerry Brown as the killings continue in his city? Will Californians promote the mayor of one of the state’s most dangerous cities to the job of the state’s top cop? One can only hope that Brown’s current job performance actually matters to the voter’s of this state.… Read More

As an advocate of full disclosure and no other restrictions on campaign finance I am posting my major donor report that will be filed with the Secretary of State today.

For those people who find money in politics to be distasteful or corrupting I say too bad. Free speech is our right and I literally put my money where my mouth is.

No longer can you simply stand in the park and recite your grievances with the government and have an impact. Supporting good candidates and issue is the way we do it today–don’t villanize me for speaking my mind.

People who have problems with money in politics don’t understand why some people give to politics. My motivation is often times helping friends. For instance, my good friend Steve Vargas is running for city council in Brea. He was on the council several years ago and now he is ready to serve another round for the residents there. I have given him $2500 so far and fully expect… Read More

Today Governor Schwarzenegger announced his intention to appoint former Congressman James Rogan to a seat on the Orange County Superior Court that will become vacant on September 30th..

Rogan, of course, is a superstar on the Republican side of the aisle. While originally a Democrat, Rogan found his heart and soul in the Grand ol’ Party of Abraham Lincoln. He has had a storied career — as a successful gang murder prosecutor, a judge up in Los Angeles County, GOP Majority Leader (yes, we had one of those once!) of the California State Assembly, a Member of Congress (where he served as one of the handful of managers of impeachment trial of former President Bill Clinton), and went on to serve President George W. Bush as an Undersecretary of Commerce and as Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

If you ask Jim about his career, and of what he is most proud, he will readily pull out of a photo of his family, and beam as he tells you that his family is his most proud achievement.

Anyways,… Read More

"There’s some things you don’t want to answer to give ammunition to the other side."

This gem of a quote was given to veteran Stockton Record political reporter Hank Shaw when he spoke with Jerry McNerney, the Democrat nominee for Congress against incumbent Republican Richard Pombo in California’s 11th District (pictured to the far left), which is largely based in the Stockton area, and in the East Bay Area.

McNerney besides being candid in his belief that you should hide your positions on the issues if they are unpopular, has got to be one the dumbest candidates for office – EVER.

Shaw penned a story for the Record which ran on Sunday, On 2nd thought: Democrat changes dozens of answers in online survey, in which Shaw reveals that McNerney, fresh out… Read More

"There’s some things you don’t want to answer to give ammunition to the other side."

This gem of a quote was given to veteran Stockton Record political reporter Hank Shaw when he spoke with Jerry McNerney, the Democrat nominee for Congress against incumbent Republican Richard Pombo in California’s 11th District (pictured to the far left), which is largely based in the Stockton area, and in the East Bay Area.

McNerney besides being candid in his belief that you should hide your positions on the issues if they are unpopular, has got to be one the dumbest candidates for office – EVER.

**There is more – click the link**

View Full Commentary… Read More

Some opportunities you just can’t pass up. Being a gearhead of the Mustang persuasion, when offered a chance to "deliver"a 2006 Hertz Shelby GT-H Mustang to NorCal, it didn’t take much arm twisting.

The 2006 model is the reincarnation of the ’66 Shelby Mustang GT350H that you could rent from a participating Hertz location in 1966 for $17 a day and 17 cents a mile. Carroll Shelby persuaded the Hertz folk back then they needed to liven it up a bit so they took delivery of a total of 936 special edition GT350’s in Hertz company colors of black with gold stripes. This was the Mustang fastback which in its Ford incarnation came with the 271 horsepower Hi Performance 289. Shelby’s magic brought it up to 306 h.p. via a big 715 cfm carburator, Cobra high rise intake, Tri-Y headers and improved exhaust. Plus enhanced suspension bits, stiffer springs and shocks tostraighten curves and brake upgradesto bring some more "whoa" with the go. And of course,… Read More

Following up on our top story today, attached is a .pdf file that shows the 55 changes that Democrat McNerney has made on the Project VoteSmart website as he ‘reinvents himself’ for the General Election. Let me add that he may have changed all of these positions again since this was compiled. He’s quite the moving target.… Read More