There has been a lot of hub-bub (a legal term, I think) over the UCLA Bruin club that is paying student to record lectures of professors with a leftist-bent. (Read it here.) One issue that seems to be missing from this debate, whether you agree with the concept or not, is whether students have a “consumer protection” right to know what they are getting themselves into.

My good friend Jim Rogan has been quoted in the article linked above as stating that most students take classes full well knowing that their professors are liberals. Fair enough. But what is not expected is that a professor will turn their own political opinion (something they are entitled to) into a basis for making students uncomfortable for expressing their own opinions. After all, the freeflow of ideas that is so important to education runs bothways. Worse yet, students have a right to know if the professor at issue will actually let their political proclivities govern their grading practices.

The idea of taping lectures then is really about… Read More

Excerpts from Thursday’s North County Times Article "Activists Seek Term Limit for Supervisors" by Gig Conaughton:

Angered by county supervisors’ decision to challenge California’s medical marijuana law, and backed by a national marijuana advocacy organization, local activists Wednesday filed letters of intent to start a voter-initiative to impose term limits on supervisors. Medical marijuana proponents say the five county supervisors, all of whom have served at least three consecutive four-year terms, are "out of touch" with voters and that term limits could eliminate the problem.

"These supervisors have been running unopposed, and they (feel) they can do anything they want," said Claudia Little, one of the activists who signed papers at the county Registrar of Voters office. "They’re insulated … and their attitude is just arrogance. We need to stop this dangerous activity of them not listening to their constituents."

County supervisors voted unanimously in December to sue the state to try to overturn California’s 9-year-old, voter-approved medical marijuana law,… Read More

This morning meeting of the San Gabriel Valley Lincoln Club featured pollster Steve Kinney. Steve (pictured to the right) is great pollster and I enjoy and incorporate many of his messages into political. He has worked for liberals and conservatives.

Kinneyshowed through data that California is not the radical left-wing state that the media makes it out to be. Our poll numbers are virtually the same on issues as they are in the rest of the country. There is an exception in illegal immigration. California is more concerned about illegals than the rest of the country.

Kinney also listed several issues that polled high in intensity among Californians. The Governor managed to mention only one of them in his State of the State speech (sex offenders).

Kinney also pointed out that the Governor didn’t do well amongGOP votersin the special election. I’m sure more debt and fees should do the trick.

In response to a question, Kinney… Read More

Today is the 25th Anniversary of President Ronald Reagan’s First Inaugural Address. Below is the text of that speech. Reading it is a great way to honor the memory of a truly great man, and a great President:

Inaugural Address West Front of the U.S. Capitol January 20, 1981 This speech was delivered to the nation when President Reagan was inaugurated to his first term of office. … Read More

Today is the 25th Anniversary of President Ronald Reagan’s First Inaugural Address. Below is the text of that speech. Reading it is a great way to honor the memory of a truly great man, and a great President:

Inaugural Address West Front of the U.S. Capitol January 20, 1981 This speech was delivered to the nation when President Reagan was inaugurated to his first term of office. … Read More

The Los AngelesCounty Planning Commission has approved regulations for "pot" clubs. This bake sale is a little differentfrom your mom’s PTA bake sale. The feds say no pot, the state’s voters said why not. See the article here.This is classic conflict between state and national interests, libertarian and traditional conservatives.

Good news for some: JackIn TheBox is open 24 hours.… Read More

I remember from playing Scrabble that instead of playing a tile on your turn, you can instead throw ‘back’ all of your tiles, and pick new ones from the bag of unused tiles – a fresh start so to speak. That seems to be what is being advocated by first-term (this go-around) Congressman Dan Lungren (R-Sacramento – pictured to the right). He is advocating that all of the House leadership positions come up for a new vote — right now there is a pitched battle taking place as to who will replace Tom DeLay as the Majority Leader (#2 ranked position, behind the Speaker). This race, though, is touching off two off other races as one of the candidates for leader is currently the GOP Whip (#3),… Read More

On the main page of the FR today, we linked to this USA Today major story focusing on the relationship between Congressman Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and a hedge fund named Cerberus, which raised substantial money for Lewis, and who has also benefitted from a major $1.6 billion dollar project. Congressional Quarterly carried this response to the story from Congressman Lewis:

Lewis Denies Discussing Contract With Donors House Appropriations: Chairman Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., today said neither he nor any members of his staff had discussed a defense funding allocation with representatives of a defense contractor or a hedge fund that hosted a fundraiser for Lewis’ leadership … Read More