This is a reprint of a column published in the Los Angeles Daily News about our experience from twenty years ago on 9/11 and thereafter. It is being re-run with the hope that you will recall what your own experience was that day while contemplating the importance of our goal to win the war against the terrorists.

I knew this was going to happen. I had been told and warned it was only a matter of time. I never expected to be part of history in this manner. I certainly did not know it was going to occur on this day, at this time.

I came to Washington with a group of Los Angelenos as part of a tour tied to the national quarterly meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition. We had arrived on Saturday, September 8th, and began what most political junkies would perceive as a dream five days. We had lined up members of the cabinet, the Chief Justice, and others. We had political leaders and policy wonks scheduled higher than the corn in Kansas.

As fate would have it, Monday, the 10th, was our foreign policy day. We started with a briefing by the Israeli Ambassador and his staff and followed that with a briefing from the #2 person at the Jordanian Embassy.… Read More

First the good news. After 4 September, we are FINALLY ending the federal “stimulus/unemployment” payments. It’s time to get people returning to the job market.

But, sadly, I don’t think that — as a result — everyone will be returning to work. This is ironic — as Labor Day is coming up this weekend.

Many “unemployed” may already be working — but not on the books. They are getting comfortable in the subsidized underground economy.

Working in the cash economy (or not working at all) will remain popular as long as all the OTHER benefit programs pass out free goodies. People today know much more about how to get (and STAY) on the dole than they knew in pre-COVID days. And few states are more anti-employment than California.

At this stage, CA will still pay the STATE unemployment benefits —up to $450 a week— $23,400 annually. No social security and other payroll deductions. No state income tax. Apparently the recipient does not even need to pretend that they are seeking… Read More

ALL Black Lives Matter – but not to BLM –or to the MSM

by Richard Rider

UPDATED AUGUST 2021 using U.S. Census figures.

Let’s confront an uncomfortable fact.No one wants to address the very highper capitablack violent crime rates.Indeed, merely broaching this topic is often grounds for censorship and cries of “racism.”

But the victims of most such black crimes are other blacks.How does systematically ignoring and/or denying this high crime rate help black communities?The answer is, it doesn’t.Ignoring this crime wave guarantees that the carnage continues.Indeed, arguably it’s racist toavoidthis topic.

To its credit, my SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE publisheda detailed article on San Diego County crime by race – both victims and perps.It’s based on an excellent SANDAG… Read More

For someone like myself who has been involved with and analyzed the political arena, one can almost always conclude as to why an elected official has taken a political position. Most of the time it is to serve their perceived constituency for the purpose of maintaining the elected official’s lifespan in office. Supporting college loan relief makes no sense for nearly all elected officials. Yet many are pushing it anyway.

There are three discernible voter groups that have an interest in this issue’s outcome: 1. People who never attended college nor have their children. That is about 51% of Americans. They have zero interest in paying for the college loans of the other 49%. Let’s say there are about 210 million Americans over the age of 18 years old. That means 107 million in that category.

2. The other 49% have either a community college or four-year degree. Of that 43 million have student debt as of now.

3. That means the remainder is a group of 64 million Americans. These people either paid off their loan, paid their way through college or had it paid for. I fall into two categories. I paid my way through college and ponied up for my two… Read More

I believe in vigorous and active political campaigns, and the clash of political principles. I believe that when people hear the truth, they will choose the truth. The challenge is that too often political truth gets trapped in campaign rhetoric and political pandering. The challenge for conservative candidates is piercing the rhetorical cacophony, amplified by the leftist mainstream media, and speak truthfully about why conservative principles promote those government policies that will improve the every day lives of the citizens of this state and the country. Smaller government, stronger families, less taxes, freedom and free enterprise and the key to the peace and stability of each community, and the prosperity of families and individuals. On that, all conservatives should agree.

That doesn’t mean that, at any point, conservative candidates need to talk about “every issue” involved in the freedom agenda. Some specific agenda items need more explanation, some need more education, and some are so counterintuitive that promoting them will simply take too long, and generate too much opposition, to promote in the often hectic election… Read More

One common refrain from redistribution progressives is the unfair “digital divide.” It’s largely an old, outdated excuse for low income kids being left behind — as opposed to properly blaming the failing urban school systems and unwise parental priorities.

Let’s look closer at each “deprivation.”

The lack of Internet access for some is real, but overblown — and solvable. The problem has been made worse by the perpetual pandemic government lockdown of kids — unable to attend school, visit libraries, or and otherwise access Internet hot spots that are available… Read More

We apparently have a governor who never had limits set by his parents while growing up. How do I know this? He told the press that the recall was not “fair.” Every parent I know had a petulant crying child stand in front of them at some point screaming “That is not fair.” In a variety of manners parents told their children “Tough luck kid; life is not fair.” We never expected to have our Governor acting like that. If Governor Newsom somehow survives this recall he will take it out on us because he will be a pouting little child who ultimately got his way.

This column typically stays away from speculation. Yet in this case, it is necessary. Based on watching this Governor who, for over two years has handled himself in a certain manner and will continue in the same manner, will know he can operate for another five years without restrictions.

Newsom seemingly just realized there is a homeless problem in California despite having been our Governor for more than two years. He stated it is unacceptable for homeless to be living on the streets. Thank you, Governor, but we all know that. Instead of restructuring laws that would stop attracting homeless from… Read More

If you have thought about leaving California for Texas, you should really pay attention to what is going on in Scandinavia. Just like New Yorkers who exited for Florida, Swedes are being betrayed by their government and should demand they act more like Danes.

This all accelerated when Angela Merkel decided to take in a million immigrants when countries in the Middle East and Northern Africa were falling apart. Over a million refugees came to Europe through the Merkel-led plan and spread through all members of the European Union. The Eastern European countries balked and were called the usual names – racist, anti (insert the relevant ethnicity), etc. But based on what is going on in some countries, the immigrants have been extremely problematic.

Sweden has been particularly welcoming, having taken in a higher percentage of refugees than many other countries in Europe. For that, a country that was basically without crime went from the safest country in Europe to having the second highest level of crime after Kosovo. Despite the government’s attempt to hide the figures, the refugee community which has exploded to over 500,000 in ten years has also exploded crimes… Read More