This week’s announcement that a group of large Republican donors are getting together to redo the image of the Republican Party is a tune that has been sung before. About once every three to five years, several donors say they are going to get together and try and rewrite who the Republican Party is by using their money and their influence to change "the direction of the party." The usual announcement is followed by a number of newspaper stories announcing the formation of the group, the newspapers call Allen Hoffenblum, a political consultant who hasn’t been involved in Republican politics in twenty years (except to criticize Republicans) who criticizes conservative Republicans and the effect they have had on the party, and then a series of columns by liberal Democrats, like George Skelton, congratulate these Republicans on their insight into the problem with Republicans. The biggest problem, according to George, is that Republicans are not like Democrats, and, so says George, if they were just like Democrats, they would win elections. So, any Republican that tries to reform the Republican Party to make it more like Democrats must be right.… Read More

" The Obama campaign has simply not done a very effective job connecting with blue-collar and middle-income voters, and they are the heart and soul of the Democratic Party."

So states, Clinton’s campaign pollster Geoff Garin yesterday in a conference call with reporters.

Garin added Obama’s "appeal among white voters typically has been among the people who are the most affluent."

The LA Times reporter opined that " It is unusual for the campaign to talk so directly about racial divisions among Democratic voters. "

… Read More

On Earth Day, it’s only appropriate to write about some “green” legislation making its way through the legislature.

Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia has introduced AB 2808, the “Green Schools” bill that would require public and private elementary and secondary schools to use “nontoxic cleaning materials.” According to the bill, cleaning materials include glass cleaner, all purpose cleaner, laundry detergent, and dishwashing liquid and detergent. “Nontoxic cleaning material” is defined as “a biodegradable and environmentally friendly product that is made with natural or naturally derived ingredients and free of ozone-depleting compounds and substances that contribute to air pollution or to the buildup of “greenhouse” gases.”

Last week the bill passed its first policy committee, Assembly Education, 6-1, with three abstentions.

The main supporter for AB 2808 is the… Read More

Happy Earth Day. In honor of this occasion, I’ll lead the clips today with warm and cuddly stories marking earth day. Politico digs into the House cafeteria composting story with some in-depth coverage. Sen. Boxer has a special "Earth Day" op ed in The Hill today, slamming the Bush Administration / EPA. And Roll Call writes up how environmental groups are going to employ aggressive tactics like those seen in former Rep. Pombo’s seat in 2006. (Remember: Roll Call may require a subscription — with apologies).

Politico also covers the House GOP conference on the issue of earmarks and party turmoil.

All the publications and public interest groups have been covering the lobbying disclosure reports — the verdict: lobbying is good business, generating some $2.7 billion last year. That’s a record.… Read More

Last month, I penned a column about Mark Nuaimi, who is the elected Mayor of the Inland Empire city of Fontana, and who is also the Assistant City Manager in the nearby city of Colton. The reason for my penning my original piece banging on Nuaimi was an article I read in my morning perusal of stories, in this case one about destruction of city e-mails. It seems that Nuaimi used his Colton e-mail to refer to some Colton residents as “urban idiots” – doh. As I often do when I am struck by someone or something, I did an internet search on this guy. I got a lot back, hence I wrote about him…. Anyways, you can read that column here.

Of course, when I wrote it, I didn’t know that… Read More

Last month, I penned a column about Mark Nuaimi, who is the elected Mayor of the Inland Empire city of Fontana, and who is also the Assistant City Manager in the nearby city of Colton. The reason for my penning my original piece banging on Nuaimi was an article I read in my morning perusal of stories, in this case one about destruction of city e-mails. It seems that Nuaimi used his Colton e-mail to refer to some Colton residents as “urban idiots” – doh. As I often do when I am struck by someone or something, I did an internet search on this guy. I got a lot back, hence I wrote about him…. Anyways, you can read that column here.

Of course, when I wrote it, I didn’t know that… Read More

Listen to it here….… Read More

Yesterday I drove out to Palm Desert to help my Aunt and Uncle celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary.

One cannot help but notice that Palm Desert has fallen prey to the affliction that strikes many communities this time of year — campaign signs everywhere.

That’s said, I was in a place where there is not just one but two contested Republican state legislative primaries in the offing. Assemblyman John Benoit and former Assemblyman Russ Bogh are duking it out for the State Senate, and Brian Nestande and Kelly McCarty are battling for Benoit’s Assembly seat.

I don’t know that there are “official” slates, but there may as well be. Everywhere you saw a Benoit sign, next to it was a Nestande sign. Everywhere you saw a Bogh sign, you saw a McCarty sign.

As they say, its us versus them. I’ll let you decide if you are with us or with them!… Read More