Some observations on the Governor’s State of the State speech:

The Governor said we need, "More, more, more." Those are three of the scariest words any elected official with the ability to spend our tax dollars can string together.

He compared California’s economy to China’s suggesting we could be more like them. He failed to mention anything about their pesky communist system of government.

He said to, "Think of California as a mutual fund." If CA was truly a publicly traded company, even I would encourage Elliot Spitzer to investigate that stock.

Note to Assemblyman Chuck DeVore: I noticed you not clapping at the Governor’s new proposal for $70 million dollar in bonded indebtedness. Way to stand your ground. I hope you didn’t eat the little spinach hors devours at the reception out of protest too.

Watch out. The Governor wants space to house another 83,000 criminals in prison. I am not sure who he has in mind for taking up residency, but my advise is to lay low, avoid eye contact and pay your taxes on time.… Read More

Here’s my question for angry Republicans, especially my colleagues who post to this website:

If Schwarzenegger had not named a Democrat to be his chief of staff last month, would you be this upset about his speech tonight?

Let’s assume that he doesn’t raise taxes, or exceed the six percent limit for debt service. He can then argue that this bonding would have happened anyway over the next ten years, but better to plan it out rather than doing it piecemeal.

And let’s assume that the Retailers’ Association, the State Chamber, etc continue to support the minimum wage increase. (Which I don’t remember anyone going crazy about last summer when Schwarzenegger offered the same deal to the Democrats that he proposed tonight).

Obviously, no true-blooded fiscal conservative is going to love these things, but would they be grounds for a primary challenge if he’d hired Curt Pringle instead of Susan Kennedy?

(And by the way, I’m still waiting for the name of a plausible challenger who can make more of an impact as Ron Unz against Pete Wilson.)

Don’t get me wrong: I’m not taking… Read More

I just returned home to Oakland after two fun days in Sacramento where I was lucky to attend a couple of events celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Republicans taking control of the State Assembly. Ten years ago this month, Assemblyman Curt Pringle united his caucus and was elected speaker, giving then-Governor Pete Wilson a GOP majority to push through key conservative issues. Today, Pringle is putting those same limited government, free market principles to work as mayor of the city of Anaheim.

The first event of the celebration was a reunion dinner of the personal staff who helped Pringle implement the policies of the new GOP majority. Pringle fondly recalled the hard work of his team, thanking them for their dedication and ideas. Others told stories of the good times working together, which included lots of breast-feeding jokes about Deborah Gonzalez (who gave birth shortly before Pringle took power and then promptly showed up to work, bringing her newborn with her. Pringle then created a special breast-feeding room in… Read More

ARNOLD TO GIVE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS Today at 5 p.m., the Governor will issue his 2006 State of the State Address before a special joint session of the California State Legislature. If you are not one of the 120 legislators, and other assorted VIP types who will be in the Assembly chambers, you can watch a streaming video of the Governor’s speech live right here. … Read More

There is an important meeting of the minds taking place by gate #2 in the terminal at John Wayne Airport. Translation: Jon has found Ken Khachigian also waiting for the next flight to Sacramento. As you would expect, the conversation quickly turned to the Rose Bowl narrow defeat of the USC Trojans. Ken, showing that his ability to ‘spin’ victory in any circumstance, had this to say:

"The game’s metaphor is a red state victory over a blue state; George Bush over Barbara Boxer over Nancy Pelosi," said Ken. "Making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear."

(As a Bruin supporter myself, I’m just fine with the sow’s ear.)… Read More

What conservative in California has a higher profile than State Senator Tom McClintock? He has been arguably the most articulate, principled conservative in the legislature. Twice he carried the statewide conservative banner as the GOP nominee for State Controller (the last go-around losing to Steve Westly by less than one vote per precinct). Of course, he ran as the conservative candidate in the 2003 recall election, and won praise from not only conservatives but from across the political spectrum for the statesmanlike approach he took to campaigning in that race. Unless Governor Schwarzenegger leaves the GOP, he has a virtual lock on the Republican nomination for Governor in his re-election. McClintock is facing a clear field in his bid to be Arnold’s running mate. (Hmmm… “Schwarzenegger / McClintock” – that makes for a long bumper sticker…) It is clear from all of the news stories offering a prelude to the Governor’s State of the State speech tonight that Schwarzenegger is tacking hard to the political center, and some of his proposals (massive spending, wage hike mandates, etc.) are anathema to a rock-solid intellectual libertarian like… Read More

Well, almost at the State of the State. From a big tent outside on the capitol lawn. But you need a cool pin and have to be on a list to get in here. So, I feel important.

The Governor started his remarks by apologizing to Californians for the special election. Almost as if to say that what he was trying to achieve it wrong. I maintain that he absolutely did the right thing with the special election. It was the overwhelming dollars spent by the unions that caused the measures to fair.

Well, it isn’t too practical to blog throughout this speech (I will post mid-speech again if there is anything worth blogging). When it is over, I will post a longer message.

Jon… Read More

First the pro-Wal-Mart council majority call off a recall election using a recent liberal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on the Voting Rights Act. (BTW: Thisruling creates lots of possible problems forcitizen democracy in the future.) See it here.Then one of the majority’s members changes sides and votes to have the recall election. See it here.Now one of those being recalled went to federal court and successfully got an order stopping the recall process— for now. See the local story here.

If Wal-Mart can only get the bulldozers started.… Read More