The FR would like to point out that Sacramento Democrats are extremely consistent. They are willing to work with the Governor and Republican legislators on any project or program as long as it contains one of the following mandatory requirements: a tax increase, borrowing money, or increasing fees. Oh yes, they will also embrace projects that including increasing regulation or adding mandates to the lives of Californians or their businesses. As everyone trumpets the successful ‘solution’ to the prison overcrowding problem, let’s be real. It was a bitter-sweet victory for GOPers who didn’t want early releases of inmates being ordered by a Judge. Yes, there will be more prisons. But if Republicans had their way, this would have been paid for with general fund dollars. Instead, California taxpayers are going to debtors prison – again.
We would like to give a h/t to State Democrats for hosting such a blogger-friendly state convention. From our discussions with lefty bloggers (with whom we disagree on virtually everything), there is clearly an effort being made to reach out and really integrate them into the event, and provide them with superior resources for taking the message out of the convention. While we don’t agree with the message (pretty much at all), we congratulate our lefty colleagues for having superior access, and opportunity.
Today there is actually a new story where some sort of ‘watchdog group’ that hates the fact that there is money involved in the political system is complaining about that fact that Donald Trump wrote a $10,000 check to the Governor’s campaign committee, right around the time that Arnold appeared on one of Trump’s television shows. GIVE ME A BREAK. Donald Trump writing a $10k check would literally be the same as you or I giving a penny (or less). He is vastly wealthy. I’m tired of people who think that too much money is the problem in politics. It’s actually the opposite — not enough Americans donate money to candidates. I agree that a disproportionate amount of the money given in politics is done so by people with some interest in government (they receive services, or are regulated). That said, if every household in America had a $25 annual political giving budget, these other donations would quickly be eclipsed. Maybe we need a tax credit of $25 for every American who donates to a candidate for office at any level?
In closing, today, I would just like to ask all FR readers to keep the family and friends of Kim Rohrabacher in their prayers and thoughts. Kim, the older brother of Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, was a really great man. I got to know him back in 1988 when his brother first ran for Congress (he moved home from D.C. where he had been a speechwriter for then President Ronald Reagan). Kim was funny, caring and totally jazzed to help his brother then, and was a close advisor to Dana for all of these years that he has been in the House. Kim passed away earlier this week, and I will be attending his memorial service this morning. Kim, We’ll miss you.
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