Rob Reiner was in the Bay Area today promoting his latest nanny government initiative, Preschool for All. According to the Oakland Tribune, he is scheduled to submit 1 million signatures today to put his initiative on the June 2006 ballot. The initiative proposes to increase the income tax of individual making more than $400,000 a year, and couples making $800,000 a year, by 1.7 percent.

Reiner fielded questions about his proposal on the Ronn Owens show, a top-rated moderate radio talk show host here in the Bay Area. While I will admit to having a knee-jerk reaction to any political that comes out of Reiner’s mouth, it was interesting to hear him try to sell his universal pre-school ideas—particularly, when the calls coming in were predominantly against him.

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Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley is one tough guy. Now in the midst of Hollywood’s and the Nation of Islam’s campaign to spare the life of Crips gang founder Stanley "Tookie" Williams, Cooley has issued a 57 page response to suggestions that "Tookie" is as innocent as a little lamb.

Graphic details about the four murders he was convicted of, the witnesses, the evidence etc… Much better than Law & Order. At the same time a chilling look at some who doesn’t deserve clemency.

You can read the whole report by clicking here.… Read More

It’s funny, but those with whom I have been close have heard me saying that Tom Feeney has been my favorite Republican Member of Congress since before he was even elected in 2002. Trust me, it is a total (and very cool) coincidence that Congressman Feeney hired my good friend Jason Roe to be his Chief of Staff! Of course, now Jason is the Washington, D.C., correspondent for the FlashReport, very funny. Anyways, back to Tom Feeney. Back in 1994, Jeb Bush, then the GOP nominee for Governor of Florida, tapped Orlando area attorney Tom Feeney to be his Lieutenant Governor running mate. (In Florida, like at the national level, the candidates for the top two executive positions run as a slate – a great idea which, like with so many other things, needs to be fixed here in California where the Governor and LG can be, often are, and currently are political adversaries instead of… Read More

“Christmas on the Prado” has for years been a tradition for thousands in San Diego.Held over two nights in a beautiful section of the city’s famed Balboa Park, for a quarter centurythe event exemplified the Christmas season for many – a way to fully get into the spirit, with carols, strolling minstrels, chestnuts-a-roastin’ and a nativity scene, all held in as “crisp” an environment as possible, given San Diego’s usually warm climate. It may still exemplify those things for some, as long as they don’t mind the new title:“December Nights.”

I attended an event for 5th District Board of Equalization candidate Michelle Steel this evening at Fats in the Little Italy district of downtown San Diego (that’s right, its down here too). The room was packed, and it looked like paying customers who were doubling down. Frankly, I thought that a BOE finance event would be a little more like a morgue, filled with staff looking for free shrimp, than what I found. It also sounded like she had a very aggressive finance schedule, which would not surprise me given the energy level and total commitment of her husband Shawn. I had never heard Michelle speak before, and I was impressed with her humor, poise, and grasp of political realities.

Perhaps more important – and this may have already been noted in the blog – I learned that Supervisor and San Bernardino County GOP Chairman Bill Postmus had endorsed Steel a couple weeks ago. Meaning: Postmus delivers, in spades, votes and campaign contributions. He’s on the short list of Southern California endorsements that actually matter.… Read More

Earache. Earlier today, the Labor-HHS Appropriations Act, the spending bill that funds the Labor Department and Health & Human Services Department went down in a stunning defeat 224-209. The reason, Republican leaders stripped all "earmarks." Every Democrat and 22 Republicans voted NO…cause they want their pork. See the Roll Call and find out how your member of Congress voted.

Morrow. Senator Bill Morrow continues to staff up in preparation for his run for the 50th Congressional District seat currently held by Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham. Cynthia Determan, a native of Oceanside, has joined Morrow’s office to handle press and coalitions. Determan comes most immediately from Red Gate Communications, a Studio City-based public affairs firm founded by Fionna Hutton. Determan isa graduate of UCLA and handled press… Read More

Pat Bates (candidate for OC Supervisor v. Cassie DeYoung) is showing real leadership on the issue that matters most to 5th District voters–traffic. She doesn’t out-of-hand reject any alternative proposal. She is a real problem solver and not at all reactionary.

Click HERE to see Pat’s Perspectives on traffic.

I have still not seen any endorsements out of the DeYoung campaign…

Bates has a long list.… Read More

In today’s news links on the main page, there is an article (in red ink) from The Hill which talks about U.S. Representate Darrell Issa endorsing moderate GOP businessman Ulan Uke in the race to succeed neighboring Rep. Duke Cunningham.

THIS IS NOT THE CASE. ISSA HAS NOT ENDORSED UKE says Dale Neugebauer, Issa’s Chief of Staff.

We will attept to bring you more information on the developing controversy…… Read More