Cities throughout California are facing deficits similar to the state’s problems.Naturally, government-program saturated San Francisco has not been spared from ominous budget problems, and Mayor Gavin Newsom is taking drastic measures – at least that’s what he’s leading the public to believe.And, to reward himself, his staff is getting an extreme makeover. According to The San Francisco Chronicle (January 18, 2008), Newsom’s calls for fiscal conservation were contradicted with self-serving, expensive “improvements.” “After eliminating jobs and ordering departments to make drastic cuts to brace for a $229 million budget deficit, [the mayor] went on a spending spree to create an office at City Hall for his newly recruited team of aides.” … Read More

I’m on the road, so here is the latest off the transom from the freedom fighters at No on 93: Desperate Nunez Contributes $1.1 Million to Yes on 93 to Save Speakership Sacramento – Apparently Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez believes it’s a matter of life or death whether he can keep his powerful post until 2014 by passing Proposition 93. At least that’s what recent television advertising by the Yes on 93 campaign suggested. Nunez’s team used EMT Tim Heard to tie the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina and wildfires in California to the need to change term limits in their advertising. Who would have thought so much was on the line on whether the Speaker and his fellow Sacramento legislators can lengthen their terms in office? But then again, Proposition 93 has always been about Fabian Nunez and his lust for the power, perks and personal financial gain of public office. So it’s no wonder that a committee controlled by Nunez now reports contributing a total of almost $1.1 million to the Yes on Proposition 93 campaign. Obviously, the Speaker has waited until the last possible moment to contribute a total amount in excess of $1… Read More

I have been with Governor Romney (listen for our FR Podcast interview tomorrow), and only now am able to let readers know that Governor Schwarzenegger did, in fact, endorse Senator McCain this morning.

As an elected officer of the State GOP, I have not endorsed any candidate. But I will offer McCain some unsolicited advice. Since you are trying to garner conservative support in the final days, you should actually take Arnold on the road to other states, where his status as a celebrity will help your momentum. Here in California, “post partisan” Arnold has worked hard to alienate conservatives (after counting on their support in two statewide elections).

Senator, perhaps have your campaign strategists contact the folks trying to pass the Indian Gambling Compacts on the same ballot. They, too, are trying to move conservatives to support their cause. They’ve pulled their ads featuring the Governor…

Don’t get me wrong – good for you in receiving Arnold’s support. I just don’t think that he will be a good messenger to the very GOP voters you are trying to attract to your candidacy.… Read More

Last disclosure Auday Arabo showed 297k on hand… an amount that observers far and wide found very impressive. So all the talk over the past few weeks has been assuming Auday had the capability of raising even more.A lot more.

Last night at the ‘Back to Session Bash’ I discussed the 78th Assembly District endlessly with lobbyists and assorted political types. The general impression was that, while Auday Arabo was in serious trouble now that Maxine Sherrard was back in the race, he would show at least 250k more raised and at least 400k on hand, and that given Auday’s various past affiliations he would need every penny of it to even have a shot.

But upon reading Arabo’s report as it came over the wire just now, I was as surprised as anyone else to discover old Arabo had raised a total of 55k and ended with a cash balance of 299k. No movement. No momentum.… Read More

The San Francisco Chronicle might get a Pulitzer. No kidding, last weekend after several decades of missing the boat, brave reporters Matthai Kuruvila, Kevin Fagan and Jaxon Van Derbeken finally exposed the entrenched link between a local terrorist Muslim organization and key Democrat Bay area leaders.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/qws/ff/qr?term=your+black+muslim+bakery&Submit=S&sa=Search&st=s&Go.x=25&Go.y=7

… Read More

Bruce Bonafede is a public realtions consultant in the Coachella Valley. He is always on the "cutting edge" of scientific discovery. He sent me this op ed a few days ago…

Scientists Discover Binary Being

Bruce Bonafede January 27, 2008

A panel of leading academics has rocked the scientific community with the announcement of its discovery of a new type of human. The “binary being” – never before seen in the history of mankind – is reportedly made up of two unconnected human bodies with two separate brains, but with only one mind.

“This represents a major mutation of the human species,” said Professor Charles “Chip” Darwin of the School of Genetics and Gaming at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “The two bodies don’t look like each other, and they can function independently of each other. The easy assumption is we are dealing with two different people here, except obviously we’re not.”

The mutant, dubbed “Billary” by the scientists through a conjoining of its two first names, has been sighted throughout the United States. Earlier… Read More

A couple of weeks ago, I noted that former Congressman Doug Ose had decided to run. Now it’s official…sort of. Ose is set to declare Friday in Auburn and has been seen at numerous events in the Roseville area over the past few weeks.

The Roundup carried the following report: "Meanwhile, Doug Ose has decided that the term limits pledge he upheld when he gave up his seat was not a lifetime one, meaning Rico won’t have an easy dance in the primary for John Doolittle’s seat."

A similar report ran in a Sacramento Bee story as well…

It looks like Ose has positioned himself well — he’s got $460,000 left in his Congressional campaign account; and two weeks ago, moderate Mike Holmes dropped out of the race. Holmes praised Ose in his statement to the press, leaving the impression he was clearing out in favor of Ose.

So it looks like another showdown between Ose and conservative former State Senator… Read More

No details yet on where this is up… At 90 seconds, it’s long for tv… But then, it’s all what you can afford…. … Read More