Every few months I am forced to write another commentary reminding our readers that survey results are a function of the questions you ask. As I always point out, if you ask: “Would you like to see a 25% cut in the ticket prices at Disneyland?” The response will be overwhelming in support. But if you ask: “There is a proposal to reduce the ticket prices at Disneyland by 25%, but in doing so one out of every five rides will be closed the day you go. Would you support that?” You will get a much different answer.

This morning California Republican Party Chairman Tom Del Beccaro had a great post up on his Facebook page. I’ve “lifted it” and placed it below…

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FROM TOM DEL BECCARO’S FACEBOOK PAGE

Incredible!!!

On that alleged poll saying CA supports taxes – it was taken among a “adults” – a non-existent category. Polling should be… Read More

Europe’s Effect: Europe is a long ways away. It may seem like what happens there can’t be of that much consequence to us in America. But, that’s not true. Just as conflicts that ignited in Europe in the 20th century dragged us into two world wars, the effects of economic unrest on that continent will involve us, as well – whether we like it or not.

To coin a phrase, Europe is in economic deep doo-doo. They are suffering a huge crisis born of too much debt of which the causes and potential cures are far too complex for a meaningful analysis in this short format. Suffice it to say that Europeans have given themselves a lot of socialistic benefits without paying for them, instead choosing to borrow the money. The resulting union-dominated socialism has led to very little growth. Italy, for example, has had zero GDP growth in 10 years! Without GDP growth, you cannot grow wages, benefits, government, or social and environmental policy. But, they have tried to do all of that. Germany is the most prosperous country in Europe, but even their prosperity has not been pure. Note that 50% of all of Germany’s products are exported; most… Read More

San Bernardino County Supervisor Neil Derry sponsored an event in Highland (in the Inland Empire) to gather signatures for the effort to refer Assembly Bill 131 — the so-called “Dream Act” — to the voters of California…

Repealing Sacramento’s Nightmare “Dream Act” By San Bernardino County Supervisor Neil Derry

Guaranteeing in-state college tuition for illegal immigrants? Creating a fiscal incentive to reward illegal behavior and deny thousands of California… Read More

I just watched a video ad put up by the Ron Paul campaign that is all about Newt Gingrich, and it is… Well, you just have to see it. A “home run” for whomever it is that produces videos for the Paul campaign. The permissions on the video is set up so that we cannot embed it, but you can follow this link to see it.… Read More

We’ve all seen the polls showing Congress with historic low approval ratings (the most recent poll by CBS shows 11% approval, 82% disapproval). Incumbents nationwide are feeling the pressure and some seemingly-safe political giants, like Barney Frank, are calling it quits on their own terms before their constituents do it on theirs.

In the wake of the GOP route of 2010, Republicans were crowing that new majorities in state legislatures nationally would enable redistricting to further cement the congressional majorities, possibly even gaining seats. However, reality set in and setbacks in Texas, California, Ohio, Illinois, and possibly even Florida have changed that forecast.

Most troubling however is that the anti-incumbent mood is likely to have more impact on Republicans than Democrats, in spite of the fact that the issues matrix favors right-of-center policies.

First, there are more Republicans than Democrats in Congress so on the natural, Republicans have more to defend as incumbents. But that’s not the most troubling news.

I’ve sat through focus groups of Republicans and Democrats and reviewed polling in races in several states and… Read More

* So it turns out that California voters, by a near super-majority of 64%, want a revote on $9.95 billion in general obligation bond funding that would go towards a high speed rail system in California. When voters approved this funding back in 2008 (barely, by a 52.8% margin) — it turns out it was on the strength of what have turned out to be bogus numbers. Turns out that high speed rail is a heck of a lot more expensive than ballot arguments led voters to believe. In addition to wanting a re-vote, according to the Public Policy Institute of California, 37% of those who voted for the bonds last go around would vote against them if given another chance. So, two action items for the legislature: 1) Place the bonds back on the ballot next year. 2) Apparently the HSR bonds require legislative approval to sell. Don’t give it.

* In his “Willie’s World” column in the San Francisco Chronicle yesterday, Willie Brown romanticizes a recent junket to Cuba. He talks… Read More

This Wednesday prosecutors and lawyers for Democrat Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi are scheduled to appear before Judge Gerardo Sandoval of San Francisco Superior Court to set a date for her preliminary hearing on felony grand theft shoplifting charges stemming from Hayashi’s departing from the Union Square Neiman-Marcus store last month with $2,450 in merchandise she did not pay for. Hayashi was excused from having to appear at the scheduling hearing on December 7, however, state law requires that she attend the preliminary hearing when it is finally scheduled, although she cannot be compelled to testify at that hearing.… Read More

Occupy and taxes explained in less than 4 minutes.

Occupy explained… Read More