One of the most maddening set of ads this political campaign season are the ads the Democrats are running against Mike Villines and Abel Maldonado.Both men were key Republican votes for last year’s budget in which Governor Schwarzenegger and the Democratic legislative leaders choose to raise taxes rather than make tough spending cuts.According to an email that I just received from Democrat Dave Jones (who clearly purchased or was given a GOP list), Villines raised our taxes $14 billion. Republican voters don’t need Dave Jones and Gavin Newsom to tell us what Villines and Maldonado did last year.We know. What we need Dave Jones and Gavin Newsom to tell us is the truth:that the Governor and their party supported and encouraged Villines and Maldonado to change their positions and cast that vote.I know that no one held a gun to their head but the pressure “to do the right thing and pass a budget” was great.And I’m … Read More

Wow–a hard-hitting ad from Citizens Against Government Waste. Worth watching.

/>… Read More

David Zucker, the man behind such hits as “Airplane” and the “Naked Gun” series, is using his comedic genius to take on Barbara “Don’t call me ma’am” Boxer in a hilarious new video. On Andrew Breitbart’s Big Hollywood web site today, Zucker explained that after watching Boxer’s arrogant dressing-down of Brigadier GeneralWalsh during a committee hearing last year, he was mortified that he had ever supported Boxer. Read the rest of his blog here.

It’s refreshing and encouraging to see so many talented individuals in Hollywood are waking up to the truth and embracing conservative principles—despite potential backlash among their peers. Thanks to the boldness of people like Andrew Breitbart and David Zucker, more and more of those in the entertainment industry can openly share their political beliefs.

… Read More

Few people that I know have not seen the movie Groundhog Day, where comedian Bill Murray plays a television news weatherman who keeps re-living the same day (starting at 6 a.m.) over, and over, and over again. It would appear that San Diego City voters are being treated to their own real-life version of Groundhog day – this one not so funny.

In early 2009, politicians in Sacramento cooked up in a back room Proposition 1A. This measure contained some purported reforms (the credibility of which was debunked) in exchange for California voters approving a two year extension of car, sales and income taxes to the tune of over $14 billion dollars. On May 19 of last year, the voters sent a very loud and clear message to the political class by rejected Proposition 1A, and not by a small margin. In the final tally 65.4% of voters – nearly two-thirds – voted no. By any measure, a landslide loss for the measure. Voters were simply not willing to tax themselves more to… Read More

Part of the reason why a reasonable Propositionlike 23, which would merely abate the radical "Global Warming Solutions Act" until California reaches ‘only’ 5.5% unemployment, is the failure of California businesses to "man up"

The Tipping Point probably came in the last decade, when California big businessturned intoa craven political creature. The LA Times confirms recent polling that Prop 23, which was slightly ahead in September at 52 to 41% is slipping to 44 – 49%.

Even liberal economists recognize that the Global Warming Solutions Act will cost billions to energy businesses and transportation directly. The GWSA will have astatistically zero impact to planet earth. But "green" business will thrive. Yet the percentage of so-called green jobs is maybe 3%. While 97% of the work force suffers, 3% benefit. Liberals successfully created an emerging government favored elite.

The two oil companies who help pony up some $9 million is facing 16 separate committees ranging from the notorious Sierra Club to billionaires in Silicon Valley. They argue that Prop 23… Read More

From today’s Wall Street Journal Political Diary E-mail… … Read More

This is the kind of data that moves political giving. A win for Carly Fiorina over Barbara Boxer in California is not just a pickup of one seat in the United States Senate (possibly the win that gives a majority to the GOP) — but the symbolism of such a win, going into the 2012 elections, would be staggering. Especially when you consider that the Democrats have pulled out all of the stops for Boxer, including campaign events featuring both the President and Vice President.

If you have any doubt about the importance of a final and hard push for Fiorina in the closing days of this campaign season, read this memo from well respected pollster Dave Sackett of the Tarrance Group. Then recommit to doing as much as you can, whether through financial giving or grassroots activism… MEMORANDUM DATE: OCTOBER 20, 2010 TO: CARLY FOR… Read More

Read this story about a local candidate (where I once sat on the city council) who apparently got a bit overzealous in setting up a backdrop for her photo and video shoot…

La Mesa mayoral challenger talks trash Shades of the William Hurt character setting up a falsified shot inthe classic "Broadcast News" scene.

My advice today is simple. As a public official — or as a "public" candidate — anything you do outside the confines of your own home will be seen by someone.

Whether you do it…well, you might consider measuring that not by whether you think you can get away with it, but instead by if you want to see a story about it in the newspaper.

Actually, you know, you could also measure whether to do it by asking yourself if it’s right or wrong.

Just a thought.

###

All of Barry’s enlightening advice…and other posts._… Read More