(this is part ll of “CARB’s Mary Nichols is No ‘Rock Star’ Among Bureaucrats.” Part l ishere)

Bureaucrats can’t be rock stars, despite what the Los Angeles Times says.

Mary Nichols, California’s Air Resources Board Chairwoman, was referred to as a “rock star” in a LAT article Saturday.Seriously.

As the Chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board, Nichols is charged with the implementation of AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, and SB 375, the Sustainable Communities Protection Act – both explicit social engineering processes intended to force Californians into high density, high rise housing, out of personal automobiles, and onto public transportation.

That’s not exactly the purview of the Rolling Stones. But more importantly, there are two important points surrounding Nichols’ actions: one is the CARB knowingly… Read More

An article masquerading as serious journalism ran in the Los Angeles Times Saturday touting California’s Air Resources Board Chairwoman Mary Nichols, as a “Rock Star.”

Once I got the coffee out of my nose, I reasoned that Nichols, the CARB’s dear leader, might indeed be a rock star… in a sort of Rosie O’Donnell or Janet Napolitano way. And she’s just about as pleasant as those two fishwives.

However, Nichols actually functions more like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton – she’s known as a shakedown artist, but comes with a state-issued badge.

The LA Times story testified to this:

“A meeting with Gov. Jerry Brown… Read More

Although it may seem far in the distant future, there has been a great deal of speculation regarding what ballot propositions might appear on the 2016 General Election ballot in California. Focusing on just those proposals having the potential for real harm to taxpayers, here is our short list:

SALES AND INCOME TAX EXTENSION — An extension of the temporary sales and income tax increase voters approved with Proposition 30 in 2012 is being advocated by public sector labor leaders. The proponents will argue that, since Californians are accustomed to paying these higher rates, it should be more palatable to voters to make these tax increases permanent as opposed to some “new” tax.

OIL SEVERANCE TAX — An oil severance tax – taxing petroleum as it is extracted – is likely to be advanced by those who see an opportunity to soak an unpopular industry. They will count on the public not noticing that these taxes will be passed on to California drivers in the form of higher gas prices.

SPLIT ROLL PROPERTY TAX — Those on the far left are salivating over the prospect of an increase in property taxes for commercial property. This attack… Read More

Here’s a front page SAN DIEGO U-T “feel good” story about El Cajon police giving out $20 bills rather than citations for Christmas. WONDERFUL publicity for the cops. Allow me to play the Grinch in this activity. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/dec/27/tp-cops-give-cash-instead-of-citations/

Here’s the shorter AP story that went out on the national wire. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/dec/27/police-in-san-diego-suburb-give-cash-at-traffic/

Was this some altruistic outburst by cops on the beat? Nope. It was a calculated (and amazingly chintzy, when you look into it) ploy by their labor union. It garnered the desired effect — terrific publicity by our gullible press. Unmentioned was the fact that we taxpayers paid for most of the total cost of the publicity stunt — as the cops were on the clock while giving out the money.

This was a carefully staged event. The proof is that the El Cajon police… Read More

As is my custom the past several years on this eve…

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For… Read More

The motto of liberals is (well, SHOULD be) “Don’t look back.” They don’t, else they couldn’t continue babbling their idiotic economic proclamations. Looking back, they’d learn something, which too often would contradict their mindless mantras. Here’s a great example — from Economics Professor Mark Perry’s blog: http://www.aei.org/publication/sen-sanders-blamed-speculators-7-50barrel-increase-oil-prices-jan-june-now-get-credit-43barrel-drop-oil-prices-since-july/? Sen. Bernie Sanders blamed speculators for the $7.50/barrel increase in oil prices from Jan-June; Do they now get credit for the $43/barrel drop in oil prices since July? Carpe Diem … Read More

California Democratic politician Jesse Unruh’s famous description of Sacramento lobbyists rings true even today: “If you can’t eat their food, drink their booze, screw their women and then vote against them, you have no business being up here.”

Unruh also said, “Money is the mother’s milk of politics.”

Remembering these cynical thoughts, California Republicans have a few people to thank this Christmas for maintaining the Unruh status quo: Senators Leland Yee, Ron Calderon, Rod Wright, Ben Hueso, outgoing Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, and incoming Senate President pro TemKevin De Leon.

The Senate scandals in 2013 and 2014 were legendary, as was the gross mishandling of the aftermath.You can’t make this stuff up.

Scandals remind people of the shady underpinnings of politics, and the temptations lurking around the Capitol that some lawmakers are just incapable of resisting.

The difference usually is, when it’s Republicans caught with their hands in the proverbial cookie jar, they are shunned, and forced to leave in shame. Democrats, on the other hand, circle the wagons, pretending its business as… Read More

During the holidays, most Californians are focused on their homes. This is the time when homeowners – and renters too – are decorating and extending hospitality to friends and neighbors. But heavy taxes and fees imposed on homes by the Grinches in government make it hard for Californians to hang on to their homes .

Homeowners, who work hard to pay for and maintain a house, pay property taxes that often do not fund property related services. These revenues go into local government coffers and can be spent for any purpose. To pay for services to property, like sewer, water and refuse collection, the homeowner pays extra through fees, assessments and other charges added to the property tax bill. Additionally, homeowners throughout California are also hit hard with bonds. Virtually all bonds for schools that must be repaid by property owners pass due to Proposition 39 that reduced the two-thirds voter approval requirement to 55 percent.

Even now, there are lawmaker Scrooges in Sacramento who want to make it even easier to load up your property tax bill even more. They argue that because of Proposition 13’s low property tax rate, they should be allowed… Read More