The problem with stories about California’s prison system is they are based on fiction more than facts; hyperbole more than rational thinking.

But high drama sells newspapers far more than just telling the boring truth. And everyone knows that newspapers – including titans of yore like the Sac Bee – are struggling.

So Californians are led to believe that our prison system is wildly out of control and filled with non-violent offenders who are nothing more than victims of medieval laws brought forth by Republicans.

First, California’s prison population has increased by 13,000 between 1998 and 2008, from 158,000 to 171,000. This 8% increase is far slower growth than the general population increase for that same time period. California’s state population grew almost twice as fast from 33 million people to over 38 million people in the past 10 years.

Furthermore, all of the prison growth can be attributed to inmates committed for violent crime including an increase of 6,300 for homicide, 2,500 for child molestation, and 2,400 for robbery. During the same period, the population of inmates committed for property and drug crimes declined by… Read More

Looking for alternative L.A.news sources about the convention? Former Assemblyman Bob Pacheco has a blog for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers.… Read More

Judge Peter Polos of the Orange County Superior Court signed a final order this afternoondenying Luigi Rossetti, Jr’s attempt to be placed on the ballot and in voter guide materials as "Lou Penrose." The Judge found that the name "Lou Penrose" was technically false, and the parties all stipulated to the judge’s tentative ruling that Luigi Rossetti’s ballot name for the upcoming Dana Point Municipal Election shall be listed as: "Lou Penrose, a/k/a Luigi Rossetti, Jr."

A lawsuit was filed by Petitioner Denise Erkeneff of Dana Point after the Registrar of Orange County had allowed the "techically false" name to appear on the ballot. The Registrar stated in a sworn statement that he does not have resources to investigate the truthfulness of proposed ballot names andthough he had approved Rossetti’s ballot name as "Penrose," he had advised him by letter to consult a lawyer.

Facts developed in the case established that there was almost no internet or public agency history on "Penrose," but there was ample history on "Rossetti," including… Read More

You know what I like most about Assemblyman La Malfa, he can say in three words what is takes me a one thousand to say. The wisdom of a farmer over the verbosity of a lawyer.

That being said, I wanted to talk about the budget and two articles that appeared today about the dispute, one from Dan Walters and the other from Dan Weintraub. A short synopsis of the Walters article is that the Republican plan is the one most likely to be adopted, not because it is a perfect plan, but because the Legislative Republicans are sticking together. Walters notes the problems in both the Governor’s plans and the Democrat plan, neither of which will fix the budget problem either. The Weintraub artilcle blasts those same Republicans because they won’t vote for a tax increase to "permanently" fix the budget problem in California.

Now usually neither Walters nor Weintraub get things right, not because they are not experienced, but they don’t think outside the box in politics. They like the tired old cliches that masquerade as solutions among the pseudo-intellectual chattering class in Sacramento. They are willing to criticize doctrinaire Liberals… Read More

Judge Peter Polos of the Orange County SuperiorCourt has issued a tentative ruling that Congressman John Campbell’s District Director may not use the "false" name "Lou Penrose" alonein his race for the Dana Point City Council in this November’s municipal election. Instead, he must include his real name, and the ballot will state: "Lou Penrose, a/k/a Luigi Rossetti Jr."A final hearing will be held tomorrow afternoon where Rossetti may discuss his reaction to the tentative ruling, and the Court can receive any argument for changes. However, the County of Orange, the City of Dana Point, and the Plaintiff have all agreed to the tentative ruling.

Rossetti adopted the name "Lou Penrose" as a radio personality for a small radio station in Palm Springs, CA a number of years ago. Rossetti kept the name for political meetings, but refused to legally change his name and uses the name "Luigi Rossetti, Jr." on his drivers’ license, and for legal documents, such as ownership of his home in Dana Point. He is registered to vote as "Lou Penrose Rossetti,… Read More

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A second person told me that Fred Thompson’s great speech last night was mostly the one Arnold Shwarzenegger was to give at the RNC Convention.

I assume it as the last have that didn’t deal with current events. It is your call, but would the Governor give a speech that included discussion of character? And attributes like "Strength. Courage.Humility.Wisdom.Duty.Honor."

If so it was a good thing he kept his word this time not to come.… Read More

Everyone is excited to see how Vice Presidential running mate-mate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin does in her big convention speech tonight. I know that I am ready for another convention session to begin. Senator Fred Thompson hit a “home run” for McCain last night, which was awesome. And despite his reminder of how I disagree with Senator McCain on a few key policy issues, Senator Joe Lieberman gave a wonderful talk “over the heads” of watchful delegates to independent swing voters across America (he did succinctly remind me of a lot of issues where I disagree with McCain, but then I quickly remembered that those pale in significance to horrific prospects of an Obama Presidency).

Before going I’m enjoying my seats in the Alternate section. Our delegation is awkwardly seated on the actual floor, to the back right hand side of the stage, but the Alternate section, just off of the floor, is front and center in front of the podium! It’s been great walking around the convention, meeting and shaking hands with GOP… Read More