When I lived in Sacramento and needed a laugh, I sat down and watched Bill Murray’s “Stripes.” Now living in the Bay Area, all I need to do for a good laugh is to watch San Francisco local politics.

Sometimes the board of supervisors is passing loony resolutions, like advocating that the federal government allow a San Francisco group to trademark the name “Dykes on Bikes.” Other times, the craziness comes from the many different (and often freaky) groups in San Francisco, the high church of group politics.

The latest example is the tension in the Polk Gulch neighborhood. Once dominated by drug dealers, prostitutes and the homeless, the neighborhood now is enjoying gentrification.… Read More

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s decision to wrest control of redistricting from the elected representatives of the legislature probably seemed like a good idea by many California Republicans frustrated by the political wilderness they’ve been trapped in for so many years. In fact, it might be just what is needed to be relevant in Sacramento – but the national implications are not helpful.

Proposition 77, which seems unlikely to pass in the Golden State – thus giving Congressional Republicans a gain of exactly zero seats, has at least inspired Democrats. Democrats in Florida, Michigan, and Ohio.

Common Cause, a… Read More

Keith Richman is a RepublicanAssemblyman from the San Fernando Valley that wants to be the GOP nominee for State Treasurer. Prop. 73 is a measure that requires parental notification before an unemancipated minor can get an abortion.

When Assemblywomen Mimi Walters and Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth circulated letters in the GOP caucus asking legislators to support Prop. 73. Only Keith Richman refused to sign. Other self identified "pro-choice" Republicans signed the letter, viewing this measure correctly as a parental rights issue.

The state party endorsed it. Even the liberal California Congress of Republicans endorses the measure.

Why would Richman join Barbara Boxer in opposing this measure? Polls show over 80% of Republican support this issue. How does it help Richman in a closed Republican primary to be so… Read More

I just left the Ben & Jerry’s factory in Waterbury, VT, so please understand if I seem a little annoyed… "Ben & Jerry’s is committed to working in support of social justice and equality, eliminating our negative impact on the environment…" … and contributing to the epidemics of obesity and diabetes through the manufacture and sale of frozen bovine mammary secretions… (I made up that last part). Guess who’s not in charge of this part of the vacation.

I started this entry this morning near Lebanon, N.H., heading west on Highway 4. Since Mr. Fleischman advised me to post shorter, more frequent blog entries whenever and wherever things occur to me, I’m taking his advice to the extreme by posting this from my BlackBerry while in a moving vehicle. Don’t worry, I’m not driving this time. Before I almost submitted to Ben & Jerry’s corporate/Marxist re-education (I wouldn’t give them three bucks for theirice cream, which I hear is good, much less a tour)… Read More

On the FR weblog today, Jason Roe, our Beltway correspondent, laments that the Prop. 77 strategy in California may backfire and, due to a ripple-effect of other redistricting measures that may pass in a number of other states where the GOP has the favorable lines, we may lose the GOP majority in the house. Jason and I disagree on Prop. 77, but that’s okay. I’m right and he’s wrong! ;) THE BIGGEST DANGER TO A GOP LOSS IN THE HOUSE If we want to look to why Republicans might lose their majority in the House, one need look no further than an article from The Hill today, and look to California’s own Duncan Hunter. Hunter is Chairman of the esteemed House Armed Services Committee, and a very senior player in the… Read More

When I was a teenager, I joined one of the record clubs that advertised in the Sunday newspaper. You may remember the pitch: pay one penny for a dozen records or cassette tapes (yes, it was that long ago…) But once you signed up you had to buy a dozen more records at regular prices. Still not that bad a deal, with one catch.

You may remember the catch as well. They sent you a card every month with a promotion for a newly released record. Unless you sent back the card within a couple of weeks, they automatically sent you the music, along with a bill for it. Well-organized, efficient people sent back the card most months, and instead picked out the music that they wanted for the next three years. Me, I ended up with a lot of music I never wanted, which is just what the record companies were counting on. So that’s why I’ve still got all those Manilow and Carpenters cassettes in the back of my closet.

Fast forward a couple of decades to the fight over Proposition 75. And the same dynamic is at play: a large organization counting on the passivity of its… Read More

IRVINE PTA FORUM I received a telephone call from one of my local school board members, Carolyn McInerney (a Republican), late last week. She told me that she was having trouble finding someone to come and represent the YES on 76 cause at a forum being sponsored by the Irvine PTA and supported by the school district. It’s no wonder they were having trouble filling the spot. Carolyn, herself an opponent of the measure, disclosed to me that the State PTA had gone on record opposing it, that the district Superintendent would be on the program, opposing the measure, and that, by and large, the crowd there were ‘education folks’ who were opposed. Flying down to give the "No on 76" talk was the Deputy Executive Director of the California School Boards Assocation.

Well, clearly Carolyn knows me too well. The taller the odds, the bigger the challenge – like a moth to the flame, Jon can’t resist. So I agreed to come down and speak. After spending some time preparing (Prop. 76 used to be a very intimidating measure, now I really… Read More

LEAGUE TRUMPS ITS OWN BOARD You didn’t read much in the main-stream media about the League of Cities meeting recently held in San Francisco. Then again, why would you? It’s the LEAGUE OF CITIES (can you say…B-O-R-I-N-G to any newspaper reader). Not so boring, though, is what happenned at this particular meeting relative to Proposition 76, the Governor’s "Live within our means" fiscal reform measure on the Special Election ballot.

You had a mini-debate of sorts as speakers to the League meeting included Governor Schwarzenegger, the proponent of 76, and state Controller (and candidate for Governor) Steve Westly, and opponent. There was a LOT of grassroots-style lobbying — with the leadership of the League out there trying to quell the groundswell — ultimately unsuccessfully. Despite a previous vote by the League Board of Directors to stay neutral, the delegates voter 135-124 to support it.

You don’t hear much from embarrassed League officials on this important demonstration of local support for Proposition 76, but… Read More