An interesting piece in VoiceofSanDiego today about AMN Healthcare Exec and former mayoral candidate Steve Francis, including his ongoing efforts to better City Hall and keep his name in play for the future. Francis foes — of course — say such activism is only about thelatter, but as I’ve opined before, positive efforts regarding the City of SD are welcome, regardless of any personal agenda that may also be gained in the process.

The VoSD entry by Evan McLaughlin may focus a bit too much for Francis’ tastes on whether he will take on sitting Mayor Jerry Sanders, but as long as Steve is leaving that option open, the questions are bound to be the focus of any media story.

A friend and local consultant provides the quote in the article that truly hits home, politically, whether one likes the reality or not:

"I don’t expect anyone to run against the mayor. And frankly, anyone thinking about it doesn’t have good political acumen," said Jennifer Jacobs, a Republican political strategist. In reference to Francis, Jacobs added: "I think he would make a great mayor, but… Read More

If you’ve been following the saga of Fresno Unified School District at all, you know that the current Board President, Carol Mills, is involved in an ongoing cold war with the Superintendent, Michael Hanson. Hanson just happens to be one of the best School District CEOs in the United States, and nothing makes the teachers unions more angry than competent District leadership.

Mills is a micromanaging proxy for teachers union President Larry Moore, so there is no surprise about the tension. And if Hanson gets run out of town, there will be hell to pay for not only Mills, but the Board members that have been foolishly supporting her in the face of a growing public resentment of her conduct and a grand jury report to back it up..

Now several elected officials have weighed in, with a diplomatic, yet to the point letter, which asks Mills to get her act together. Although I would have like to have seen stronger language, it is gratifying to see… Read More

AB 1471, legislation to require a microscopic stamping of every cartridge as it is fired in a semi-auto pistol, passes today with no Republican support, 44-31. This bill was tried last year by Asm. Paul Koretz, where it was stopped late at night on our floor after coming back from the Senate. The pretense being that ID’d casings, tied to a particular gun,left behind at a shooting would help solve that crime.

The argument that marking bullet casings with a micro-small ID number struck by the firing pinis a way to solve crimes doesn’t hold water for Reeps, what with the fact that it is easy for a criminal to file down the firing pin, or toss other-numbered cartridges outto confuse investigation ofa crime scene, or usea revolver that doesn’t eject shells at a crime scene, not to mention that real world studies show that the numbers frequently mis-stamp and aren’t reliable. Theseare among just a few reasons why this bill won’t solve anything…and why the Governor needs to veto it should it make it’s merry way through the Senate again this year.… Read More

Bill Bradley, the normally diligent and well-researched author of the New West Notes blog, offers this factually inaccurate and lazily researched piece in the latest edition of LA Weekly. Choosing to pander to LA Weekly’s liberal readership, Bradley ignores well-documented evidence to regurgitate the tired, out-dated themes of a new right-wing conspiracy. Yes, that same right-wing conspiracy that Hillary Clinton revealed over nine years ago and that has twice-elected "post-partisan" Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, is both new and radically right-wing.

Bradley’s flawed contention is that the Republican Party has been taken over by a new radical, conservative faction of Flash Report-blogging politicos. He cites “the rise of new, very far right party leaders: Fleischman, Tom Del Beccaro and Mike Spence” as evidence of his claim.

Never mind that Bradley’s article is laced with small inaccuracies to artificially bolster his argument, such as referring to Jon Fleischman as the… Read More

Check back in this spot tomorrow!

Care to read comments, or make your own about today’s Daily Commentary?

Just click here to go to the FR Weblog, where this Commentary has its own blog post, and where you can read and make comments.… Read More

The Antelope Valley Press has a wondeful editorial today. Paying tribute to eight residents of the Antelope Valley who were killed in Iraq. It starts with the Gettysburg Address. Well Done. See it here.… Read More

On this quiet Memorial Day weekend, here is a clip of former Governor Ronald Reagan appearing on the Sonny and Cher show back in the day… Enjoy!

Care to read comments, or make your own about today’s Daily Commentary?

Just click here to go to the FR Weblog, where this Commentary has its own blog post, and where you can read and make comments.… Read More

On this quiet Memorial Day weekend, here is a clip of former Governor Ronald Reagan appearing on the Sonny and Cher show back in the day… Enjoy! … Read More