Consumer advocate and left-wing activist Ralph Nader has just written a book entitled“Unstoppable: The Emerging Left-Right Alliance to Dismantle the Corporate State.”In aSalon interviewpublished on May 2, Nader lists five areas where the left and right can agree on policy goals: (1) controlling security state overreach, (2) eliminating corporate welfare, (3) fighting military overspending and waste, (4) cracking down on Wall Street financial fraud, and (5) revisiting international agreements that undermine American sovereignty.

Populist right-wing commentator Patrick Buchanan has taken notice. In a column published on May 19th entitled “A Left-Right Convergence?,” Buchanan identifies the rift within conservative ranks that provides an opening for convergence with the left. He writes:

“Undeniably, there has been a growing gap and a deepening alienation between traditional conservatives and those Ralph calls the ‘corporate… Read More

Readers of my posts in Flashreport know that I am not a social conservative: I am in favor of gun control, basic abortion rights, and gay marriage. In this essay, however, I do not endorse Neel Kashkari for California governor because I agree with him on these issues (which I do) but because he is the pragmatic candidate, meaning that, unlike his main opponent Tim Donnelly, Kashkari, because of these positions, has some chance to win. This assertion may strike some Republicans as odd, but here are the facts:

1. Per a new Politico poll , 71% of Republicans support stricter checks on gun purchasers.

2. Regarding abortion, the Public Policy Institute of California finds that, “Large majorities (70 percent adults, 79 percent likely voters) say the government should not interfere with a woman’s access to abortion. This view is held by majorities across parties, regions and demographic groups.”

3. Regarding gay marriage, the Public… Read More

Remember when plastic bags were foisted on the shopping public because cutting trees down for paper was bad? Introduced in the 1950’s, popular in the U.S. by the 1980’s, plastic bags were sold to the public as 100 percent reusable and recyclable. All types of plastic shopping bag can be recycled into new bags where effective collection schemes exist; some are even biodegradable.

Despite the fact that trees are a renewable resource, many stores and retail outlets accepted the plastic bags. “Paper or plastic?” became one of the most recognizable questions in America.

Flash forward to 2007, when the plastic bag began to smell like the… Read More

Every election is an opportunity for people to decide whether we are on the right track, or if we can do better

The latest polling from the Wall Street Journal and NBC News finds the national mood to be remarkably similar to that which that produced a Republican House of Representatives and sent Nancy Pelosi back into the Minority Leader’s office in 2010. By some measures, it’s even more favorable.

Is the nation headed in the right direction? 65% of Americans today say “no.” This is 5% stronger than in October 2010. Will the economy improve or worse in the next year? The public is split. How is Barack Obama doing? 43% approve and 51% disapprove. About the same conditions as in 2010.

California observers will be quick to point out that in 2010 while Republicans were gaining ground in most states, Jerry Brown won back the governor’s office for the Democrats and his party secured every statewide office.

Why the difference? Two reasons. First: it turns out that California wasn’t alone in seeing Democrat success even in an otherwise strong year for Republicans. New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Illinois saw… Read More

The June primary is 18 days away, and the 5th Supervisor District race is getting real with campaign mail hitting voter households. I’m told the campaigns of Mission Viejo Councilman Frank Ury and Laguna Niguel Councilman Robert Ming have each dropped two positive mailers, with one mail piece from Dana Point Councilwoman Lisa Bartlett.

The overall momentum of the race continues moving in Ury’s direction since my previous post on the race on May 5. He’s mounted a robust grassroots walking and phone-banking program, and has raised $19,000 since March 17, and has fundraisers scheduled practically until primary day.

Ming’s fundraising remains stalled, as it has since early this year when he began paying back his $50,000 personal loan to his campaign. He’s raised just $7,000 since March 17.

Bartlett raised $2,900 and loaned herself another $20,000 – bringing her total personal loans to her campaign to $95,000. This raises the question of why would Bartlett loan herself even more money… Read More

Today I released security camera footage showing a pedestrian nearly struck by falling glass in a January 2012 incident at the Board of Equalization’s downtown Sacramento high-rise.

View video

As the video shows, this building is a safety risk for both state workers and the public. In addition to falling glass, we’ve experienced toxic mold, leaking sewage pipes, methane gas, water leaks and more. It will cost millions more to address these problems, and it’s impossible to do so expeditiously while the building is occupied.

That’s why I’m calling on Governor Jerry Brown to back an effort to move the Board of Equalization out of its problem-plagued headquarters in downtown Sacramento.

The state has been wasting millions of taxpayer dollars throwing good money at a bad building. It’s time for the Governor to finally solve this problem by moving everyone out of that building to a new location.

Located in my district, the 24-story headquarters building at 450 N Street is designed to house… Read More

Last week, the media was all abuzz about a bill moving through the Legislature that would fix a “loophole” in Proposition 13. If this were a courtroom, I would rise to my feet and object saying, “Your Honor, assumes a fact not in evidence!”

This objection would be sustained immediately because there is no “loophole” in Proposition 13 that needs fixing. The bill at issue, Assembly Bill 2372, doesn’t change Proposition 13 because it can’t. The only way Proposition 13 – a part… Read More

This week the San Diego media is focused on ONE story — the dozen or more brush fires that have popped up around the county, thanks to EXTREMELY dry conditions, high winds (Santa Anna) and likely arson.

If this fire story were not happening, perhaps we’d all know more about ANOTHER tragedy that hit San Diego this week: Defense contractor Pratt & Whitney is abandoning its San Diego operation — fleeing for other states. This closure will cost our city 530 high paying jobs.

While the company had the option to go to the state of California for economic subsidies, it didn’t bother. FAR better “subsidies” are available in other states — the “subsidy” of a better business climate, including lower taxes.

At least it’s not the Great (hated) State of Texas that the company is fleeing for. Well, not for sure.

They are also considering relocating the San Diego operations to Florida and/or Georgia — the company has existing facilities in all three of these more business-friendly states. Indeed, they are also planning to move part of the San Diego operation toCanada!

Governor… Read More