The LA Times is reporting that San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newson has opened an exploratory committee today in his quest to succeed Arnold Schwarzenegger. It’s hardly "breaking news," since Newsom is obviously an ambitious politician. But it’s still sure to cause some movement in the Democrat camp. There’s already buzz that several high-profile Democrats may give Newsom a run for his money in a primary. The most obvious challengers would be Lt. Governor John Garamendi, Attorney General (and former governor) Jerry Brown, and fellow mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. The Times is speculating that Newsom will make a final decision about his race by the end of the year.

Governor Newsom is certainly the last thing California needs during this chaotic time in our state’s history. After all, it was Newsom who publicly defied Proposition 22 by marrying homosexual couples, provoking the disastrous California Supreme Court ruling regarding marriage. Whether Proposition 8 (the marriage constitutional amendment) passes in November will be a real test… Read More

This Friday is our nation’s birthday — Independence Day. What a great tradition, a day of the year set aside to remember our nation’s birth, and to thank God for the blessings of freedom and liberty that exist in America due to the sacrifice (many with their lives) of our founding fathers.

It is particularly disturbing that on the very week of America’s birthday, here in California the liberty of our drivers has now been eroded with the latest edict from our ever-growing Nanny State. Yes, politicians in Sacramento, intent to legislate on every aspect of the lives of their constituents have now banned the use of cell-phones by drivers of automobiles (unless we use the hands-free gizmo we always forget to have with us). If this legislation were an award winning movie, it would be entitled, "We think you are too stupid to make decisions for yourself," and the award for best actor would clearly go to liberal Democrat legislator Joe Simitian, who authored this terrible legislation, centered around the idea that there truly must be a law about everything.

Unfortunately,… Read More

This Friday is our nation’s birthday — Independence Day. What a great tradition, a day of the year set aside to remember our nation’s birth, and to thank God for the blessings of freedom and liberty that exist in America due to the sacrifice (many with their lives) of our founding fathers.

It is particularly disturbing that on the very week of America’s birthday, here in California the liberty of our drivers has now been eroded with the latest edict from our ever-growing Nanny State. Yes, politicians in Sacramento, intent to legislate on every aspect of the lives of their constituents have now banned the use of cell-phones by drivers of automobiles (unless we use the hands-free gizmo we always forget to have with us). If this legislation were an award winning movie, it would be entitled, "We think you are too stupid to make decisions for yourself," and the award for best actor would clearly go to liberal Democrat legislator Joe Simitian, who authored this terrible legislation, centered around the idea that there truly must be a law about everything.

Unfortunately,… Read More

It seems like Steve Maviglio, the Communications Guru of choice for left-wing Assembly Speakers, is the also the messenger of death when it comes to the end of Capitol reporters, and their jobs! Just a few weeks ago Steve blogged on the decision by the Stockton Record to vanquish veteran Capitol reporter Hank Shaw. Today Steve shares more bad news with the decision by the Oakland Tribune to let go of its veteran Capitol Reporter — Steve Geissinger. As Maviglio points out, Geissinger is the head of the Capitol Correspondents Association — or he was until now. The Tribune will still have access to other MediaNews correspondents from the Contra Costa Times and San Jose Mercury News.

It’s too bad about Steve. Like with Shaw, Steve has a knack for great reporting, and his contributions to the mix will be sorely missed.

So I guess there will be two types of people avoiding Maviglio now… The first being taxpayers, for whom Steve only delivers bad news. The other — anxious Capitol reporters who perhaps don’t want to… Read More

That’s not my headline, it’s courtesy of Bloomberg.com.… Read More

A bill, SB 37, to end run the electoral college and goinstead to a count ofthe popular votes ofa cartel of large states for electing President, passed today with a vote of 42-28, with only Republicans voting "NO."

As few as 12 states can band together, regardless of how their own voters voteand cast electoral votes for the national popular vote leader, and determine thewinner, small rural [red] states need not show up.A similar bill, AB 2948 of 2006 received nearly all Republicans "NO" votes then as well,30, and was veteod by the Governor. This is good veto bait again.… Read More

Michael Reagan, the eldest son of the late President and former California Governor, will announce tonight in Berlin, Germanythe launch of a project to build a significant memorial in Berlin near the Brandenburg Gate to his father’s call at that location in 1987 for Soviet President Gorbachev to "open this Gate," and "tear down this Wall." Within 18 months of President Reagan’s speech, the Wall came down, and not only did Germany reunify as a noncommunist Western ally, the Soviet empire fell to pieces just a few years later as well.

I am here in Berlin with Michael assisting in the project, which has been timed to coincide with week-long activities commemorating the 60th annniversary of the "Berlin Airlift," and the opening of a new U.S. Embassy building near the Brandenburg Gate on July 4.

John F. Kennedy is well remembered in Berlin for his famous and inspirational"I am a Berliner" speech during the height of the Cold War. Kennedy has a city square ("John-F.-Kennedy-Platz") named for him here, and his name appears on two other educational institution buildings. But in a… Read More

Assemblyman Joel Anderson’s office was quick to respond to my whiny post of yesterday, in which I indicated Senator Hollingsworth appeared to be the only area legislator to issue a statement on the Supreme Court’s Heller decision, and in which I further kinda chastised some unnamed legislative offices for not sending releases to bloggers.

This morning, Anderson’s office sent me its 2nd Amendment take of a few days ago. To be clear, the Anderson folks send me press items very regularly (so no inclusion of them in the general whininess) … I just hadn’t seen this one:

Anderson Lauds High-Court Decision Protecting 2nd Amendment

… Read More