Last month in the Napa Valley, I had a chance to meet a lot of interesting people while participating as a panelist at a California Chamber of Commerce post-primary retreat. One of those people was Democrat operative Darry Sragow. I found him to be quite interesting. A bit more subdued than I thought he would be – at least as he came across at this event. Then again, given that his audience was mostly Republicans… I bring up Sragow because he is apparently gifted with the ability to understate the obvious. Today in the Sacramento Bee is a story entitled, "Campaign 2006: For Angelides, the path ahead is mostly uphill," in which Sragow is quoted:

Last month in the Napa Valley, I had a chance to meet a lot of interesting people while participating as a panelist at a California Chamber of Commerce post-primary retreat. One of those people was Democrat operative Darry Sragow. I found him to be quite interesting. A bit more subdued than I thought he would be – at least as he came across at this event. Then again, given that his audience was mostly Republicans… I bring up Sragow because he is apparently gifted with the ability to understate the obvious. Today in the Sacramento Bee is a story entitled, "Campaign 2006: For Angelides, the path ahead is mostly uphill," in which Sragow is quoted:

I was expecting a quiet Sunday as I spent time this morning surfing over fifty websites compiling the main page. Not so much. There’s a lot going on out in news-land today. Lots of great reading for those who like to do that with their Sunday. Let’s start first with recommending four great columns for you to read: Congressman Richard Pombo penned a piece for the Contra Costa Times on why the Endangered Species Act needs a serious facelift. This is accompanied on the main page by an article from the Sacramento Bee on this same subject. Also featured, from the Bee, are a pair of articles from the ‘dynamic duo’ of Walters and Weintraub. Both pieces take a really hard look at Governor Schwarzenegger and the kind of Governor into which he has evolved. I think you will enjoy them both. Finally, LA Weekly columnist (and prolific writer) Bill Bradley has a piece on his site today that illustrates a big challenge for Phil Angelides — if you want to raise taxes on everyone, eventually you need to get into specifics – or do you? On the ‘hard news’ side of things — the top story today is an… Read More

I was expecting a quiet Sunday as I spent time this morning surfing over fifty websites compiling the main page. Not so much. There’s a lot going on out in news-land today. Lots of great reading for those who like to do that with their Sunday. Let’s start first with recommending four great columns for you to read: Congressman Richard Pombo penned a piece for the Contra Costa Times on why the Endangered Species Act needs a serious facelift. This is accompanied on the main page by an article from the Sacramento Bee on this same subject. Also featured, from the Bee, are a pair of articles from the ‘dynamic duo’ of Walters and Weintraub. Both pieces take a really hard look at Governor Schwarzenegger and the kind of Governor into which he has evolved. I think you will enjoy them both. Finally, LA Weekly columnist (and prolific writer) Bill Bradley has a piece on his site today that illustrates a big challenge for Phil Angelides — if you want to raise taxes on everyone, eventually you need to get into specifics – or do you? On the ‘hard news’ side of things — the top story today is an… Read More

The Truman Show?… Former Steve Peace aide Art Castaneres and lobbyist Adrian Kwiatkowski have started a new group, the Truman Association, ostensiblyas the "centrist-left" alternative to the GOP-leaning San Diego Lincoln Club. I guess these folks are fed up with the local Democratic Party being a monthly debating society, with no real power. More on this development and the ramifications later…but with apparentties to Howard Wayne and Padres owner John Moores, the group could have some clout locally. Matt Potter has the story here in the SD Reader.

Unsealing Aguirre… Speaking of the Reader, Don Bauder pens an excellent piece for the alternative tabloid this past week on the intrigue and machinations behind getting SD City Attorney Mike Aguirre’s 1989 divorce records unsealed. Bauder, formerly a columnist for the SDUT, has no problem asking the embarrassing question of… Read More

Sept 19 was the date set for the recall of two of three remaing pro- Wal-Mart council members in Rosemead. See last post on Rosemead here.However, there is an outstanding court case that may screech this to a haly again. See here. This kind of election bring out all kinds of wackiness. The targets of the recall voted to ban all outdoor smoking and ant- Wal-Mart types are looking at everything Wal-Mart is doing on the building site. See here.

Of course for me the ironic part is that the election will take place after theGrand Opening of the Wal-Mart which, could put an anti- Wal-Mart council in charge of spending the tax revenue Wal-Mart produces. Only in California.… Read More

Merced is a very special place and I’ve got a lot of special memories of my work there….lot’s of really good folks. One of those folks has had a tough time of it for some time, however. Gordon Spencer, local boy done good, turned District Attorney has made a bunch of mistakes…some self inflicted…some circumstantial…and some dumb luck…

While Merced is not my Flash-beat if you will, I know Merced..and care about Merced as much as anyone…so I was really bummed to see the headline on the main page about GordonSpencerdeciding to leavehis office early.The Merced Sun Star has been all over this obviously….Spencer had announced earlier in the year that his woes(continuing criminal investigations by the state Attorney General’s Office, an investigation of serving alcohol to a minor at a party, impersonating an investigator from the D.A.’s office to help settle a dispute his son had with a cabinet maker, and $57K in cell phone billing…and 3 days ago…rolling his SUV into a creek)…wow…it seems… Read More

Paperwork has been filed with the Oceanside City Clerk to recall Councilwoman Esther Sanchez, no surprise to anyone watching the divided city council and the brazenness of the council majority the last few years. Read the North County Times story here.

Calling Sanchez the "power behind the throne," Lawson Chadwick is leading the recall charge, to the dismay of the San Diego Democratic Party, which is considering removing him from his seat on that body as a result. So much for the First Amendment.

Some other folks signing the initial recall paperwork include political consulting partners Jack Orr and Mary Azevedo. Last Sunday, I noted Jack’s lack of fear in challenging the Oceanside troika of Sanchez, Mayor Jim Wood, and Councilwoman Shari Mackin. He proves it here.

The recallers will need to collect at least 10,680 signatures in 160 days.

Attached below is the intent to circulate petition.… Read More