Today, by a vote of 218-212 with one member voting "present", Speaker Pelosi got what she wanted: a policy of defeat with pork. Two Republicans voted for the Supplemental spending bill and 14 Democrats voted against what was otherwise a party-line vote. It is instructive to note that many Democrats understand how bad the war policy is here or it would not have been necessary to add $21 billion in unrelated spending to entice them to vote for it. It is insulting to our troops that peanut and shrimp subsidies seem more important to some than winning the war on terror. As the last time we debated the issue, the best statement was made by Vietnam POW Sam Johnson (R-TX). A link to his speech is below.

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Today, Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines issued a challenge to his colleague, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, to participate in (yes, this is for real) a sushi-rolling competition. In his challenge, Villines said, “The gauntlet has been thrown down, and I look forward to facing Speaker Núñez in the kitchen to see who can roll the best piece of sushi,” Villines said. “Speaker Núñez is a formidable foe both in the Legislature and in the kitchen, but I have no doubt that my superior culinary skills will prevail when the judges decide the winner of the Great Sushi Roll Off.”

Apparently, the winner of this contest will be the recipient of the Capitol Roller Award. The problem is that such a broadly worded title might just interfere with another friendly competition between some other legislators — such as Mark Leno, Tom McClintock, Chuck… Read More

Gerald Parsky finds himself back in the news. And, it’s not good.

The LA Times reported yesterday about Parsky’s failed attempt to save one of the U.S. Attorneys recently fired by President Bush. Democrats and the press are attempting to paint a picture of a unmentionableterriblescandal. But, they conveniently forget to mention Clinton’s unprecedented wholesale firing of all US Attorneys when he took office. Of course, both Presidents were exercising their constitutional authority.

The Times revealed that Parsky who vetted the US Attorneys for California placed an "outraged" call to Main Justice defending the soon to be fired US Attorney of San Francisco, Kevin Ryan. Clearly, White House deputy counsel, William Kelley was concerned with Parsky’s outrage in a private email to former Gonzales Attorney General, Chief of Staff Kyle Sampson. We’renot sure aboutfull Ryan story, butBush sacked Ryan despite Parsky’s threats.

Another story the press has failed to investigate is the connection between Parsky and recently fired US Attorney Carol Lam. Parsky was a strong proponent for… Read More

LB Reporttells us the Dems have at least two candidates for the termed out Assembly seat of Betty Karnette (Dem) They have Long Beach Vice Mayor/1st district Councilwoman Bonnie Lowenthal runningas well as Long Beach Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga is "publicly pursuing" the race.

On the GOP side they expect former Vice Mayor/Councilman and Lincoln Club Board of Governors memberFrank Colonna to run. See thepiecehere. I also understand that the GOP nominee last time, Michael Jackson (of course not the singer/dancer/lover of children) will make another attempt.

This district has the best GOP registration of any seat held be a Democrat in Los Angeles County.

… Read More

Dana Point Mayor and candidate for the 73rd Assembly District Republican nomination, Diane Harkey, led the charge in appointing Michelle Brough to the Dana Point Planning Commission Tuesday night. Brough is a lawyer and fully capable of the job. But she is a relatively new resident of Dana Point, and replaces April O’Connor, a protege of current Assemblywoman Mimi Walters, who was forced out by Harkey to make room on the Commission for Brough, in a divided 3-2 vote.

Political observers will make note that the Brough’swere die-hard supporters ofBill Hunt in his campaign for Sheriff against Mike Carona, and that her husband served in an official role as a campaign manager for Hunt’s losing race against the Sheriff.… Read More

Orange County Superior Court Judge Randall Wilkinson today denied Plaintiff Jim Gilchrist’s request for a writ of possession to regain control of Minuteman Project, Inc., and scheduled another hearing on April 25 as to whether or not the Court should appoint a receiver for Minuteman assets pending trial. Gilchrist’s application for a preliminary injunction against Defendants Barbara Coe, Deborah Courtenay, and Marvin Stewart was also denied in large part — the only order issued being that the Defendants can’t use Gilchrist’s signature in fundraising or spend donations to Minuteman Project, Inc, in their possession pending trial. But Gilchrist’s request to enjoin the Defendants from claiming they are members of the Board of Directors of Minuteman Project, Inc., was denied. Gilchrist was also ordered to post a $15,000 bond.

The Defendants feel they have won a victory in the case, and welcome court-ordered receivership of Minuteman Project, Inc. assets pending a trial on the merits.… Read More

Yesterday I spent quite a bit of time talking with media folks about this issue of Governor Schwarzenegger and his characterization on the Today Show on Tuesday of Rush Limbaugh (and his listeners) as ‘irrelevant’. While there were a number of interviews with radio and print reporters, the most fun was participating on Warren Olney’s radio program where I got to participate in a discussion of this issue with my good friend, and a fellow writer for this website, Dan Schnur. San Jose State’s Larry Gerston was also on the audio-panel. First and foremost, it was very clear that Arnold Schwarzenegger regretting making the offhand comment on the Today show – which would explain his calling into the Rush Limbaugh program yesterday (you can read the transcript, which is linked from the main page). There’s no better way to show that you really do think that Rush, his show and his listeners are not irrelevant than by appearing on the program, right? Well… Let me quickly add that it was very clear to anyone listening to the… Read More

Yesterday I spent quite a bit of time talking with media folks about this issue of Governor Schwarzenegger and his characterization on the Today Show on Tuesday of Rush Limbaugh (and his listeners) as ‘irrelevant’. While there were a number of interviews with radio and print reporters, the most fun was participating on Warren Olney’s radio program where I got to participate in a discussion of this issue with my good friend, and a fellow writer for this website, Dan Schnur. San Jose State’s Larry Gerston was also on the audio-panel. First and foremost, it was very clear that Arnold Schwarzenegger regretting making the offhand comment on the Today show – which would explain his calling into the Rush Limbaugh program yesterday (you can read the transcript, which is linked from the main page). There’s no better way to show that you really do think that Rush, his show and his listeners are not irrelevant than by appearing on the program, right? Well… Let me quickly add that it was very clear to anyone listening to the… Read More