An E-lection of Change… It was hi-lited on the main page yesterday, but SD Young Republican President Ben Avey’s piece in Friday’s Union-Trib deserves a local shout out as well. Ben nails it on the head about changing politics in the Internet age, and how young voters are both driving and engaging the medium. An excerpt:
Have you visited your presidential candidate’s Facebook or Myspace page? Have you watched a debate on YouTube? Have you blogged about your opinion only to be rebuked by a peer you have never even met? Many of you will say no, but check with your kids, because they will probably say yes.
Read all of "An election of change."
Red County SD: Peters to Join the City Attorney Fray?… SD City Councilman Brian Maienschein’s announcement of a couple of weeks ago was broken here on FR, with the mainstream media aggressively chasing the story as a result. The blogs do the honors again on Councilman Scott Peters’ plans to enter the race.
On Saturday morning, Red County San Diego’s "Hiram Johnson" noted that Peters "may not have formally announced that he is in the running for City Attorney, but he is in fact running," citing some legit insider scoop. By mid-Saturday afternoon, the Union-Trib Newsblog noted the story and this time (unlike the Maienschein confirmation) provides credit and a link. Early evening, the U-T Newsblog confirmed Peters’ interest, saying "he is taking a hard look at jumping into the San Diego city attorney’s race." Then, this morning, a prominent story in the print and on-line edition.
If you’re keeping score, Judge and former Assemblyman Jan Goldsmith previously announced his challenge to incumbent City Attorney Mike Aguirre, earning the County GOP’s endorsement. Maienschein, also a Republican, surprised more than a few folks with his subsequent announcement. Peters, a Democrat like Aguirre, now seems close to making a several-weeks-long rumor a reality.
What all the challengers have in common — if not the same party registration — is a strong belief that Aguirre needs to go. One thing they don’t have in common?…Jan Goldsmith isn’t responsible for the City of San Diego being dubbed "Enron by the Sea."
DeMaio: $267,000 Cash-on-Hand… Uh, need I say more about the 5th District SD City Council race? Perhaps not, but I will anyway, since yesterday’s U-T story was a tad wrong.
The lede indicates "Think-tank leader Carl DeMaio has 13 times more money than lawyer Robert Ilko Jr. in the City Council race for northeastern San Diego," then goes on to point out that during the reporting period DeMaio raised $184,730 to Ilko’s $13,492. Ok, I’ll buy that’s about 13 times more in dollars raised over six months.
Yet, again, the story says that Carl has 13 times more money. Not true. He most recently raised that amount. What he has, cash-on-hand, is clearly in the story as well, $267,188 compared to Ilko’s $4,172. What DeMaio has is 64 times more money. Yet, who’s splitting hairs…besides me?
Speaking of Rolling… An excerpt from the Nathan Fletcher campaign for State Assembly (here’s the entire release):
Key endorsements and half a million dollars raised in 2007
Today the Nathan Fletcher for Assembly campaign announced legislative endorsements and fundraising totals showing his campaign has continued to gain strong support as he heads into the March filing deadline…The entire San Diego Republican legislative delegation has endorsed Fletcher’s candidacy for the 75th district.
Strong support? Half a mil and no opponent? There’s a joke-question going around political circles, something about Prop 93 passing, thus allowing George Plescia to run for re-election, and whether Fletcher will still run for the seat. But, since Nathan has already committed to George in such a scenario, and neither of them probably want me to tell jokes like that, I won’t.
Don’t know much about history… In the North County Times, Sunana Batra had an op-ed last Wednesday about Senator Mark Wyland’s legislation that would ensure high school graduates have adequate knowledge of U.S. history and civics by including a related section in the California Exit Exam. Read it here.
Bless you, Kevin Jeffries… Not in time for today’s game, but in case you missed it, a timely release from the Assemblyman…
Jeffries Introduces Bill to Decriminalize Super Bowl Pools
Legislation would change penalty for betting pools from misdemeanor to infraction
Sacramento—Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries (R-Lake Elsinore) today introduced legislation that would decriminalize participation in Super Bowl pools, March Madness brackets, and other sports betting pools commonly found at Super Bowl parties and in offices all over the country. Under current law, participating in these types of pools is a misdemeanor crime, punishable by up to a $5000 fine and up to a year in prison. “With Super Bowl Sunday right around the corner, countless Californians will take part in harmless pools at their office or amongst their friends,” points out Jeffries. “At a time when we can’t keep car thieves, multiple DUI offenders and armed robbers in prison, it is silly to continue to threaten people with jail time for buying a $5 square at a Super Bowl party.”
This legislation was prompted by an incident that occurred a little over a year ago in the community of Wildomar, in western Riverside County. Margaret Hamblin 73, and Cari Gardner, 39, both of Wildomar were charged with operating a $50 football pool at the Wildomar Elks Lodge. Hamblin and Gardner both plead not guilty. “The state is going to spend thousands of taxpayer dollars to arrest, investigate, and prosecute these two over a $50 football pool?” Jeffries asks. “I am sure that there are more important issues that law enforcement and our courts can be addressing.”
AB 1852 would lessen this charge from a misdemeanor to an infraction punishable by a fine that is not to exceed $500. Commercial sports betting and operating betting pools for profit would continue to be treated as they are today. Jeffries believes that making this an infraction instead of a misdemeanor crime places this activity in a more appropriate category. “While our goal is not to legalize wide-spread commercial sports betting, we believe that it is important for the punishment to more closely fit the crime”, stated Jeffries. “Speeding is against the law, but it isn’t a misdemeanor. A friendly wager in the privacy of one’s home or office shouldn’t be, either.”
Have a great week!
February 3rd, 2008 at 12:00 am
If we’re ever going to recapture the less-than-40 vote, we Republicans need to do more to prove we can be the party of freedom and fun, and we figured this was a good start!
I’d have liked to legalize it entirely, but thatwould have required a constitutional amendment or act of Congress.
Jeff
Jeff Greene
Chief of Staff
Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries