Lionel Van Deerlin, RIP… A partisan political opponent, perhaps, but definitely a noble adversary. Some of the news reports indicate former Congressman Van Deerlin had a heart attack on March 1 and was receiving home hospice care. That didn’t keep him from getting out of bed only two weekends ago to come to La Mesa and pay a memorial tribute to his longtime friend, Dr. Jack Hardebeck, who also recently passed away. From the good humor and stories he shared at Harry Griffen Park that day, few were the wiser that he himself had only a few days remaining.
I won’t miss reading his skewering of Republicans in the Union-Trib. I will miss his presence and his wit. Read the U-T report.
Quote of the Week… After I posted the Sycuan survey results last Tuesday showing Duncan D. Hunter leading the 52nd Congressional District GOP primary with 79 percent of the vote — with all other takers at six percent or less — one of the "trailing" candidates emailed me to deadpan about the poll:
"Sounds like they spoke to the wrong people!"
Meanwhile in Santee… One of 52nd CD candidates, Santee Councilman Brian Jones, is letting his neighbors know he will go to bat for them against Duke Cunningham. From last Thursday’s U-T Newsblog:
A new mailer arriving in Santee homes this week claims 52nd Congressional candidate Brian Jones will "reverse Duke Cunningham’s earmark" giving a Del Mar company the right to build a power plant on Miramar Marine Corps Air Station near the city of Santee.
In the glossy mailer, Santee Mayor Randy Voepel says that Jones, a 39-year-old Santee Councilman, can undo language Cunningham inserted into a 2003 Defense Department Appropriations bill granting Enpex Corporation the right to develop the plant at Miramar. Voepel said the plant "threatens our city’s future." A photo shows smoke billowing out of a row of smoke stacks.
Asked exactly how he plans to reverse the action, Jones said Thursday he could "sponsor a bill to protect MCAS from non-military use," which he acknowledged would be a "very sweeping bill." Or he said he could "go after the original bill and amend it or put in a bill to reverse it."
He wasn’t sure of the exact details, but said he was determined to find a way.
SD Pension Reforms Blocked… Apparently, four members of the San Diego City Council aren’t aware that the pension debacle caused the city’s fiscal mess and the "Enron by the Sea" designation. Either that or they’re controlled by other forces. On Monday, the four rejected a significant pension reform proposal. Here’s what council candidate Carl DeMaio had to say the next day:
Late last night the City Council bowed to intense pressure by the city’s powerful labor unions and by a 4-4 vote derailed a key pension reform package offered by Mayor Jerry Sanders. San Diego City Council candidate Carl DeMaio, who has long championed reform of lavish city pension benefits, released the following statement:
“Last night’s vote by the City Council to block key pension reforms serves as yet another clear example that we need new leadership on the City Council.
"The powerful municipal unions will stop at nothing to block pension reform and prevent the financial recovery of our city government. They have controlled the City Council for years and this outrageous vote merely serves as a reminder of that fact.
"I’m ready to stand up to the bullying tactics of the unions to fight for real financial reform at City Hall. We must balance the budget by holding the line on spending and the city’s financial recovery begins with comprehensive pension reform.
"The current City Council has shown they will not enact pension reform on their own. However, voters can send a clear message on June 3rd by supporting reformers for the City Council.”
Nehring on Judicial Activism and Prop 22… Just about every GOP legislator and official had something to say about same-sex marriage during the week (except perhaps those afraid of the issue). Cal GOP Chairman Ron Nehring summed it up nicely in the CRP blog:
On the domestic side, the California Supreme Court re-opened the issue of same-sex marriage with its 4-3 decision substituting its will for the will of the people on the matter (vote for Proposition 22: 61%). This is certainly an emotional issue for many people, and understandably so. Yet, Republicans can agree that it is not the role of the judiciary to fundamentally redefine the basic tenets of society. That is a function appropriate for the legislative process, and Governor Schwarzenegger has consistently vetoed bills aimed at reversing Proposition 22. (See today’s Wall Street Journal editorial.)
It will be interesting to see how Barack Obama tip-toes around this issue. Make no mistake: the activists behind his campaign insist on rewriting the definition of marriage as a beginning, rather than an end point, on their agenda of social engineering.
When we witness judicial activism, it’s worth noting that the legislative branch — that closest to the people — is outlined in the Constitution’s Article I, while the branch most removed from the people, the judiciary, is described in its Article III. The judiciary is intended to interpret laws, not make them, as the California Supreme Court in his case has chosen to do.
Significantly, the state Republican Party has already endorsed the November constitutional amendment ballot initiative that would reverse this court decision by putting Proposition 22 into the state constitution, as other states have done.
Secret Refugee Encampments Being Set Up in South Bay?… On the heels of last Wednesday’s news reports that some Mexican police chiefs are seeking political asylum in the U.S., Jimmy Valentine (Roger Hedgecock radio producer) broke the following:
This is the tip of the burg.
We have it on good authority that tents, food, water, generators and medical supplies have been quietly shipping into San Diego County and are warehoused in the south bay at an undisclosed location. Preparations are being made to deal with thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of Mexican refugees who are expected to seek asylum here in the coming days.
The International Red Cross has already set up offices in San Diego. The idea is to erect tents inside barbed wire encampments to hold the refugees. Because of the vast numbers expected it is likely that the Mexican refugees will be held rather than processed for asylum in hopes that matters will stabilize in their home country and they will return. Local officials are consulting with refugee experts in Jordan and Syria to learn how to cope with massive influx of police chiefs, mayors, council officials and other Mexican leaders.
We also know and can faithfully report that plans have been drawn up to extricate Mexico’s top leadership from the country if necessary. President Calderon and his entourage will be flown via U.S. Air Force transport to a location in Virginia where his government will be equipped to lead in absentia.
We jest, but indeed do we?
Yes, indeed. Have a great week!