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Shawn Steel

Times Editorials returns to boredom

Last week the L.A. Times announced that Jim Newton was appointed Editorial Page Editor to replace ousted Andres Martinez. For those who indulge reading the Times, let alone the spooky editorials, it is a return to the bad old days.

For years the Times has tormented its readers with predictable pasty liberal editorials. This section was certainly the least read of the newspaper. That is until Andres Martinez, took over a couple of years ago. To the amazement of many. his editorials were funny, pithy and interesting. Previous editorials was like reading Pravda under Stalin. Always kowtowing to the Party Line. Always boring.

Martinez, who left under suspicious circumstances, excoriated Villaraigosa, supported Bush’s surge, and was a critical of democrats as he was of republicans. In a word, the editorials were unpredictable. That made reading them fun.

Sadly, tried and true PC Jim Newton has reverted to bad writing and boring but predictable lib-dem positions. His latest effort was lamenting the US Supreme Court’s decisionto reject a civil suit against IBM because one employee said something nasty thatanother employee heard. . Come on… Read More

Jon Fleischman

The Ashburn Proposal – What is he thinking?

Republican Senator Roy Ashburn has been a ‘point person’ of sorts for Senate Republicans on redistricting reform, but a controversial proposal that he introduced yesterday, Senate Constitutional Amendment 9, on term-limits, redistricting reform, and bans on fundraising is not legislation that is supported by the Senate Republican Caucus — nor Assembly Republicans for that matter. Specifically, Ashburn’s bill seems to be seeking a ‘middle ground’ to try to achieve sort of compromise. But Ashburn gives away too much to try to move something forward… ALL THREE aspects of Senator Ashburn’s proposed constitutional amendment are flawed… First and foremost, and probably most egregious, is that Ashburn’s proposal includes virtually the same end-run on voter-approved term limits that Speaker Fabian Nunez has been championing himself. According to what I read, this proposal by the Bakersfield Senator would allow for "termed out" legislators to serve at least one more term in the… Read More

Jon Fleischman

Today’s Commentary: The Ashburn Proposal – What is he thinking?

Republican Senator Roy Ashburn has been a ‘point person’ of sorts for Senate Republicans on redistricting reform, but a controversial proposal that he introduced yesterday, Senate Constitutional Amendment 9, on term-limits, redistricting reform, and bans on fundraising is not legislation that is supported by the Senate Republican Caucus — nor Assembly Republicans for that matter. Specifically, Ashburn’s bill seems to be seeking a ‘middle ground’ to try to achieve sort of compromise. But Ashburn gives away too much to try to move something forward… ALL THREE aspects of Senator Ashburn’s proposed constitutional amendment are flawed… First and foremost, and probably most egregious, is that Ashburn’s proposal includes virtually the same end-run on voter-approved term limits that Speaker Fabian Nunez has been championing himself. According to what I read, this proposal by the Bakersfield Senator would allow for "termed out" legislators to serve at least one more term in the… Read More

Jon Fleischman

Realtors may be setting themselves up for a fall…

I was thinking about it, and the idea that realtor groups are asking the state government to bring in more regulation into the private transactions between a buyer and seller of a home could come back to haunt them.

Next year, maybe some Democrat will introduce legislation to lower home costs by requiring that realtor commissions be cut in half.

When the realtors look around for help, everyone will remember that this year, they think government mandates on home sales are okay.

Tsk. Tsk.… Read More

Matthew J. Cunningham

Fabian Nunez Needs To Decide Whether Or Not He’s A Catholic

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez needs to decide whether or not he’s a Catholic, because he cannot sponsor and support legislation to legalize assisted suicide and be a Catholic at the same time.

That may sound harsh to secular ears, but it is true nonetheless.

Nunez isn’t unique. American politics is replete with politicians — usually, but not always. liberal Democrats — who like to call themselves Catholics while they publicly and unashamedely flout core Church teachings.

The Assembly Speaker is in the news because Cardinal Roger Mahoney called him out for sponsoring AB 374 to legalize assisted suicide.

I’ve never been a fan of Cardinal Mahoney, and his condemnation of Nunez rings a bit hollow considering his tolerance for heterodoxy within the Los Angeles Archdiocese and how he has chummed it up with pro-choice, pro-gay "marriage" "Catholic" politicians for years — not to mention allowing the molestation scandal to fester in his last… Read More

Barry Jantz

GBWA Tapped by Duncan D. in CD 52

Duncan D. Hunter, son of Congressman Duncan Hunter, is placing his likely-to-be campaign in absentia for dad’s seat in the capable hands of Gilliard Blanning Wysocki & Associates.

In case you missed the absentia part, Duncan D. announced last week he is being reactivated by the Marines and deployed to the Middle East. He plans to campaign for the seat while gone.

For those who ask how one canrun a competitive campaign for Congress while serving in Iraq, the response is simple— you may need a better understanding of this staunchly conservative, pro-military East SD County District.

As far as the legality of running while on active duty, which caused some blog-fodder last week (see the Hatch Act), Duncan D. continues to say that this has all been checked out with the Marine Corps and DoD. New Hunter consultant Dave Gilliard also says, "We have checked out all the rules and we will be OK."

As far as other potential candidates, the list could be long — and I believe shorter if Duncan D. does run (sounds like he’s running!) — but no formal announcements at… Read More

Jon Fleischman

Correa’s SB 670 To Ban Re-conveyance Fees Goes Too Far; Houston’s AB 1574 Makes Much More Sense

There are a lot of issues that come up in the State Capitol, and, where the significant legislation is concerned, you can usually see a breakdown occurring on partisan lines. This is because there are distinct differences between the philosophies of the parties, and when bills seek in increase the size and scope of the government, Democrats support them and Republicans oppose them. Similarly, when legislation shrinks government, it is often hard to get a Democrat to support it. There are some pieces of legislation, though that will divide Democrats or Republicans, and clearly Senate Bill 670 authored by State Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana), and advocated by state realtors, is one of those bills. Senator Correa’s bill seek to ban a type of ‘transfer cost’ that is starting to become more prevalent in home sales. The very short version of what happens is this — a home builder places this transfer cost (or fee) on the original deed, requiring that some small percentage of the purchase price (typically one percent or less) be paid to the builder at the time of sale, and perhaps what is most unusual, and disturbing to most, is that… Read More

Jon Fleischman

Today’s Commentary: Correa’s SB 670 To Ban Re-conveyance Fees Goes Too Far; Houston’s AB 1574 Makes Much More Sense

There are a lot of issues that come up in the State Capitol, and, where the significant legislation is concerned, you can usually see a breakdown occurring on partisan lines. This is because there are distinct differences between the philosophies of the parties, and when bills seek in increase the size and scope of the government, Democrats support them and Republicans oppose them. Similarly, when legislation shrinks government, it is often hard to get a Democrat to support it. There are some pieces of legislation, though that will divide Democrats or Republicans, and clearly Senate Bill 670 authored by State Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana), and advocated by state realtors, is one of those bills. Senator Correa’s bill seek to ban a type of ‘transfer cost’ that is starting to become more prevalent in home sales. The very short version of what happens is this — a home builder places this transfer cost (or fee) on the original deed, requiring that some small percentage of the purchase price (typically one percent or less) be paid to the builder at the time of sale, and perhaps what is most unusual, and disturbing to most, is that… Read More