It annoys me to no end when I see governmental bodies take up issues that have nothing to do with local government. They make resolutions for pickle week, tuna day, hard boiled egg month and a host of other silly efforts.

When I first heard about an effort in Congress to force a playoff system in college football I dismissed the effort as another example of something that does not belong in a governmental body.

However, after looking at the data about the billions of dollars spent on college football I started to re-consider. I love college football — but this is really big business.

Congressman Gary Miller has introduced a bill to deal with this issue. You can find out more about that here. We do need a playoff system to determine the National Champion so the title can be earned on the field not on a computer. I actually like this idea.… Read More

John "Union Tool" Chiang, the State’s Controller, on video.

The first video is some leftist group interviewing Chang last year when he was in Denver for the DNC Convention during the budget crisis. Nice priorities. (If you get bored watching this first video, I don’t blame you. I started to yawn. It’s really not what he is saying that is notable, but rather than he is partying at the DNC Convention DURING a state budget crisis.) The second video is short and sweet — Chiang wants to be Governor. I guess that will depend 100% on the public employee unions that make his decisions — on what to run for, and what to do in office.

This guy is an embarrassment to all of us. … Read More

It seems to me that Californians are getting what they asked for in State Controller John Chiang. The contrast between selecting Chiang or his opponent, taxpayer advocate Tony Strickland, on the November 2006 ballot could not have been more stark. While Strickland was openly supported by a cadre of pro-taxpayer organizations and leaders, the bulk of Chiang’s support came from the left-wing of the Democrat Party, and most significantly, from public employee unions eager to have yet another “tool” in an important state constitutional office, ready to be put into play should the need arise. (Below, left, is a photo of Chiang standing with all of his union supporters after being elected Controller.)

While the nation’s economy is reeling, as the United States, and California, plow into a recession, public employee union bosses continue to be advocates for the notion that… Read More

It seems to me that Californians are getting what they asked for in State Controller John Chiang. The contrast between selecting Chiang or his opponent, taxpayer advocate Tony Strickland, on the November 2006 ballot could not have been more stark. While Strickland was openly supported by a cadre of pro-taxpayer organizations and leaders, the bulk of Chiang’s support came from the left-wing of the Democrat Party, and most significantly, from public employee unions eager to have yet another “tool” in an important state constitutional office, ready to be put into play should the need arise. (Below, left, is a photo of Chiang standing with all of his union supporters after being elected Controller.)

While the nation’s economy is reeling, as the United States, and California, plow into a recession, public employee union bosses continue to be advocates for the notion that… Read More

SMC to SNA — otherwise known as Sacramento to Orange County. I'm about to go “wheels up” — today's celebrity co-passengers are GOP ca$hectomy machine Marty Wilson, and Villa Park Councilwoman Deb Pauly.… Read More

Today the Poizner for Governor campaign announced that he has been endorsed by State Senate Republican Leader.

While there will be a lively primary campaign between Poizner and Meg Whitman, it won't be much of a battle over GOP legislative endorsements, as Poizner has scooped up virtually all of those.… Read More

I wanted to share some brief thoughts following the inauguration:

Celebrity Treatment: The Washington Post noted in a gossip column that Samuel L. Jackson and Vanessa Williams were "rescued" after being stuck in (the wrong) etnry line and nearly missing access to the ceremony. That’s probably little solace for the folks I heard last night on NPR who watched from a neighborhood McDonalds after being sent away, despite holding access tickets, or the thousands of others turned away for security SNAFUs.

Where’s Iron Eyes Cody: Attendees of what many "hope" will be a "greener" administration left a veritable mountain of trash across the national mall and seeing the pictures was something of a disgrace. Leave no trace must only apply in road-less wilderness areas and not on the national mall. The other was noted by my Flash blog colleague, Rep. Campbell in his post this morning: the boos. President Bush, Sen. McCain and countless others demonstrated that core and… Read More

I’ve never attended a presidential inauguration before. And for my first one, I had a pretty darn good seat.

Members of the House and the Senate all sit up in an amphitheater-like setting behind the President. Also in that vicinity are a number of governors (Arnold was there), cabinet members, and other dignitaries from government such as Ben Bernanke and Colin Powell; both of whom were seated not too far in front of me. It was all government people up there. The celebrities; and there were dozens and dozens of them, were all sitting in seats in front of the stage.

It was really, really cold. I am a 4th generation Californian who doesn’t ski. Needless to say I don’t do cold well. It never got above 32 degrees Fahrenheit all day and there was quite a breeze on top of that. I’ve never worn so many clothes in my life, and it still wasn’t enough! There are many reasons I live in ‘The OC’ and don’t intend to leave, it’s days like today when I remember one of those reasons.

The crowd was amazing. From where I sat I could see all the way to the Lincoln Memorial and the… Read More