This post on OC Blog about the campaign my friend and colleague Adam Probolsky is running against the Soviet of Stanton reminds me of some intelligence I’ve picked up recently in this matter that reveals how stunningly out of touch Stanton apparatchiks and their captive City Council are. [For those just tuning in, click here and here for a briefing on the City of Stanton‘s brilliant home inspection scheme]

This ordinance in question — and a virtually identical one targeting rental units — is being fought by the Pacific West Association of Realtors (PWR) and the… Read More

There are a number of ‘must read’ stories today — but start with the exclusive column from State Senator George Runner and Assemblywoman Sharon Runner. This dynamic husband-wife legislative duo have been the main driving force behind the qualification of the Jessica’s Law ballot measure which, if passed, would enact in the Golden State some of the toughest anti-sexual-predator laws in the nation. They have collected enough signatures, they believe, to qualify the measure for the ballot, and will start turning them in this week, says the consultant handling the measure, Dave Gilliard.

I will try to post more to the FR blog later today, but I have to run out the door very early this morning. When you review the main page, note the link to the SF Chronicle political news page – this is there because the Chron doesn’t update their page until 6am, and I am posting this close to 5am. You can check yourself if they have any stories on California politics, or… Read More

There really is no argument too ridiculous that opponents of completing the 241 tollway in South Orange County will not employ it. I was reading this Dec. 20, 2005 letter to Governor Schwarzenegger from the California State Park Rangers Association, urging him to "pursue every means available to avert this potential disaster from occurring."

Following some customary blather about California‘s leading role in envirionmental protection, the CSPRA unveils a reason for opposition I hadn’t heard yet:

Or, the "How to Know You’re In Good Company" Award…

I know this isn’t state news, although I’m sure the incidentwill be late nite talk show and Handgun Control fodder for several days…

If my memory of history serves me correct (and please tell me if I’m wrong), the last person other than Harry Whittington who can actually say they were shot by a sitting vice president was Alexander Hamilton. Of course, Secretary of the Treasury Hamilton died within the next day or so, after his duel with VP Aaron Burr.

So, Harry, consider yourself in very esteemed company…and only you lived to tell about it.

I’ll let some statistician let us know what the odds are now….

You can always email me a history lesson here.… Read More

Los AngelesCounty Supervisor Don Knabe faces criticism over his ethics. The Los Angeles Times reports that the Board of County Supervisors approved a contract with a company that hired a lobbying firm that employs his son AND then hired Knabe’s wife after approval. See the article here.

His critics agree that he did nothing illegal. I know Knabe and his is a good man. He’s not as conservative as me or Mike Antonovich, the other GOP Supervisor, but he generally votes pretty good.

I don’t believe that Knabe did anything to warrant this attack, except be a Republican. That’s my point. The Congressman under fire, Susan Kennedy and now local guy like Knabe Have to live a higher standard. I made that point in one of my first posts back in November 2005. See it here.… Read More

There are a lot of interesting stories today.

The "must read" of the day is a column from veteran Los Angeles Times columnist George Skelton. I don’t always agree with what George has to say. As a matter of fact, if I did, George would tell you that HE would be worried. George isn’t conservative, let alone as conservative as me.

But today he has written a column looking at the growing controversy surrounding the hire, last December of Democrat Susan Kennedy to be his Chief of Staff. I have said (repeatedly) that I support this Governor – I think he is a smart, capable leader. But the decision to bring back the Deputy Chief of Staff to the disgraced and recalled Gray Davis sent a chilling message to those of us that see this Governor as being totally against anything that Davis stood for — especially the ‘pay-to-play’ perception that permeated that administration.… Read More

There are a lot of interesting stories today.

The "must read" of the day is a column from veteran Los Angeles Times columnist George Skelton. I don’t always agree with what George has to say. As a matter of fact, if I did, George would tell you that HE would be worried. George isn’t conservative, let alone as conservative as me.

But today he has written a column looking at the growing controversy surrounding the hire, last December of Democrat Susan Kennedy to be his Chief of Staff. I have said (repeatedly) that I support this Governor – I think he is a smart, capable leader. But the decision to bring back the Deputy Chief of Staff to the disgraced and recalled Gray Davis sent a chilling message to those of us that see this Governor as being totally against anything that Davis stood for — especially the ‘pay-to-play’ perception that permeated that administration.

So while my personal… Read More

I had the opportunity to witness what political philosopher Edmund Burke called society’s "little platoons" in action last Wednesday morning. I was at St. Anthony Claret School in Anaheim on Wednesday for a special assembly to recognize the Children’s Scholarship Fund for enabling 24 students of this lower-income parish to benefit from a parochial school education.

A little background: The CSF was started in 1998 by investment banker Ted Forstmann and the late John Walton to provide partial tuition assistance for low-income families to send their children to private schools.

The… Read More