The European Court of Justice, siting in Strasbourg, has just upheld on human rights grounds a Proposition 8 mirror-image law in Austria that bans same-sex marriage. The European Union’s high court found that the Austrian Proposition 8 clone is “not incompatible with the International Convention on Human Rights”. Six of 47 countries that signed the U.N.’s International Convention on Human Rights allow same-sex marriage, and a case brought against Austria by a gay couple from Vienna sought to serve as a leading case to establish precedent under Article 14 of the Convention (discrimination) in the European Union to knock out traditional marriage laws throughout Europe on human rights grounds. But the Court determined under Article 8 of the Convention (procedural) and Article 9 of the separate E.U. Charter of Fundamental Rights, the question of whether or not to allow same-sex marriage is left to regulation “by the national law of the contracting state”. That’s a pretty good decision. Maybe these United Nations types really aren’t conspiring against us.… Read More

Thanks to California’s infamously gerrymandered legislative districts the vast majority of seats are “pre-ordained” to be either Republican or Democrat. Only in a few districts is the registration close enough that a seat is “in play” in the general election. One of those is State Senate District 16 in the Central Valley.

This seat is currently occupied by term-limited Democrat Dean Florez, who has mentored Democrat Kern County Supervisor Michael Rubio (pictured, right) to succeed him. The Democrat “machine” in the southern part of the valley is so lock-step behind Rubio that he had no primary opponent whatsoever.

On the Republican side of the ballot, rancher and realtor Tim Theisen (pictured, left)… Read More

This just in from Team Carly’s Communication’s Honcho Julie Soderlund…

Yesterday Team Boxer and Team Carly met for the first time to discuss debates. As you know Carly is willing to debate Boxer pretty much anywhere, anytime. As a starting point Carly’s debate negotiation team comprised of political veterans Ken Khachigian and Beth Miller proposed a minimum debate schedule of five debates in local markets around the state in addition to two nationally televised debates. Team Boxer didn’t propose anything and said they would take our ideas back to Boxer’s camp. Below is the follow-up email Beth sent over to Dan and Ace that gives you the full rundown. We’ll keep you in the loop as this process develops! Dear Dan and Ace — … Read More

Thanks to California’s infamously gerrymandered legislative districts the vast majority of seats are “pre-ordained” to be either Republican or Democrat. Only in a few districts is the registration close enough that a seat is “in play” in the general election. One of those is State Senate District 16 in the Central Valley.

This seat is currently occupied by term-limited Democrat Dean Florez, who has mentored Democrat Kern County Supervisor Michael Rubio (pictured, right) to succeed him. The Democrat “machine” in the southern part of the valley is so lock-step behind Rubio that he had no primary opponent whatsoever.

On the Republican side of the ballot, rancher and realtor Tim Theisen (pictured, left)… Read More

In response to the story we broke here this morning, the Kern County Registrar of voters has put out a statement that they were in error, and that Rubio’s home is NOT in the 16th District where he is a nominee.

Click the link below to see the press release…

What happens now… Should be interesting…… Read More

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I am sure that the coalition of big labor unions that has and is going to fund most of the effort against Republican Meg Whitman’s campaign for Governor had this "vision" that they could attack and pummel Whitman, and that she would sit idly by. Umm, no.

Today the Whitman for Governor campaign launched their first piece exposing Jerry Brown for the long time, problem creating politician that he is.

Here is the ad…

… Read More

As changes at the Union-Trib continue with last week’s seventh round of staff layoffs, it appears no stone is being left unturned as management determines the future of the paper, including its online content. Check out yesterday’s entry by Chris Reed on America’s Finest Blog…

Let’s hope the mucketies at the paper find continued value in pushing the blog medium forward and allowing it to expand, not gutting it. Reed’s blog gives some unique political perspective and more of a cutting edge approach than can be found in the traditional broadsheet.

If anything has held AFB back from more of a following, it’s been the U-T’s lack of hi-liting and marketing it, so more readers would know it was there.

All of these things take money, of course, something not as abundant as a few years ago, especially in the world of newsprint. However, the future of news is in the far less costly electrons of on-line content, as compared to paper and ink.

It would seem a step backwards to end a blog… Read More