My flights home to “The OC” from Sacramento always make for some interesting posts (well, to me anyways). Previous flights have been loaded with legislators and luminaries (not that I do not include legislators AS luminaries).

This flight is more subdued. I did have a chance to chat briefly with Bill Habermehl, who is Orange County’s elected Superintendent of Public Instruction. We took a few minutes to discuss the swirl of bad publicity around Capistrano Unified School District Superintendent Jim Fleming. If you need more info on this, you can ‘google’ it up. I did tell Bill that Fleming is close to a tipping point that would ultimately lead to his ouster. As for Habermehl’s take…well, he probably doesn’t want his take on the www…

This post is a good opportunity to praise President Bush for his veto of the controversial legislation on his desk having to do with stem cell research. His logic is sound – this is a controversial area of scientific exploration, with many millions of Americans being at least uncomfortable if not upset about the potential immorality of some of the research. Tax dollars should… Read More

Back in January, FR Publisher Jon Fleischman posted "Epicenter of the Right Wing Conspiracy: San Diego!"on the Center on Policy Initiatives and their hee-haw opus, Target San Diego, about the so-called "Right Wing Assault on Urban Democracy and Smart Government."

Fun stuff, although I wouldn’t recommend reading all 79 pages of the report, unless you re-read some Karl — or even Groucho — Marx first.

The Center on Policy Initiatives, if not establishing any real credibility, is apparently doing so with some of the media. Richard Rider of San Diego Tax Fighters says these media outlets should be ashamed, and provides agreat analysis of just why so:

San Diego Tax Fighters Press Release – Authored by Richard Rider

Bogus Think Tank Hoodwinks Press on SD Crime Stats The Center on Policy Initiatives is Actually a Labor Union Propaganda Mill San Diego – Once again, some of the press mistook the Center for… Read More

As Jim Sills noted earlier in a comment to a Mike Spence post, Congress today voted to save Mt. Soledad, meaning the cross, unless you really believe it’s just a war memorial.

Here’s the SignOnSanDiego story:

House passes bill to save Mount Soledad cross

The number count was Yes: 349; No: 74; Present: 3; not voting: 6

Here’s the link: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll386.xml

On to the Senate.… Read More

FR friend Timm Herdt is an outstanding political writer over at the Ventura County Star. His column today is about the loss of Abel Maldonado and Kieth Richman in their primaries, and posits that this could be viewed as a failure by Governor Schwarzenegger to bring his moderate imprantur to his party. It’s posted on the main page, but I thought I’d highlight it here.

The column starts out:

Yesterday, I went to the opening of the Victory 06 HQ in Whittier. This is one big building. It is in the first floor of the building that previously housed Richard Nixon’s Law office. (I hear there are no more wires).

Most interesting the previous occupant was cited by the city for running a strip joint and lost the liqour license. When cleaning the building they found a box of feather boas used by well you know.

25,000 sqaure feat. Arnold should be visiting this site soon, they can pack them in. Read about it here.

Of cousre they have to staff it with volunteers for the 40 phone stations. That is the real challenge.… Read More

Two California Republican Congressional Representative voted against protecting marriage. A total of 27 Republican voted no while 34 Dems voted the right way. LA County based Congressman David Dreier and Congressman Mary Bono voted with Barney Frank, Maxine Waters and others that want to undermine traditional marriage in the states. As we can see courts have invalidated several marriage laws and the Supreme Court can do the same thing. I agree with critics that we shouldn’t have to pass these types of amendments. There right we shouldn’t have too, unfortunately activist liberal judges make it a necessity. To find out what other liberals Dreier and Bono voted with click here.Good news is that Newest Congressman Brian Bilbray voted yes on the amendment.… Read More

Just hearing the word conflict gives government watchdogs a warm fuzzy feeling and the media just can’t help themselves from writing a story ANY time someone suggests a conflict exists.

Few people, even those engaged in the business of government and politics and public policy can cite what, under the law, actually constitutes a conflict. Thus every time someone lobes an accusation of conflict, it becomes news.

Not being a member of the State Bar I cannot offer legal advise, but I do know that there is NO law that would put a political consultant who is not on the government payroll in the position of having a legal conflict.

So you can imagine my frustration when I read a story in the LA Times today with an Internet link that reads: Conflict of Interest for Gov.’s Aide?

Folks, I will let you in on a little secret. I use the same technique in political direct mail. The devise: framing the damning accusation as a question. This way you are not making an… Read More

Just hearing the word conflict gives government watchdogs a warm fuzzy feeling and the media just can’t help themselves from writing a story ANY time someone suggests a conflict exists.

Few people, even those engaged in the business of government and politics and public policy can cite what, under the law, actually constitutes a conflict. Thus every time someone lobes an accusation of conflict, it becomes news.

Not being a member of the State Bar I cannot offer legal advise, but I do know that there is NO law that would put a political consultant who is not on the government payroll in the position of having a legal conflict.

So you can imagine my frustration when I read a story in the LA Times today with an Internet link that reads: Conflict of Interest for Gov.’s Aide?

**There is more – click the link**… Read More