MSM PRINT NEWSPAPER CIRCULATIONS DROP, AGAIN Our friends in the main stream media print newspaper continue to feel the hit as readership continues to decline at a fairly rapid pace. More and more former readers of papers are instead turning to outlets like the internet to find their news. It seems like many papers are in a “death spiral” where the circulation drops, then the layoffs come (see here for the latest), and then the circulation drops more… and so on…

Some stats: LOS ANGELES TIMES — 739,147 — (-5.20%) SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE — 339,430 — (-7.07%) SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE — 269,819 — (-3.00%) THE SACRAMENTO BEE — 253,249 —… Read More

I am trying to get a hold of former Congressman Tom Campbell. If anyone has a good e-mail or phone number for him, can you please send it to me? Thanks.… Read More

As a follow up to my Sunday San Diego post on the race, here’s a KGTV Channel 10/Survey USA poll, from the news website….

Goldsmith Possibly Positioned to Topple Incumbent Aguirre in San Diego City Attorney Race: In an election for San Diego City Attorney held today, 10/24/08, eleven days until votes are counted, challenger Jan Goldsmith may have the strength to unseat incumbent Michael Aguirre, according to this latest exclusive KGTV-TV poll conducted by SurveyUSA. At this hour, it’s Goldsmith 50%, Aguirre 38%, Undecided 12%. Whites and Hispanics vote differently. Whites back the challenger. Hispanics back the incumbent. In… Read More

This morning from 8:30 to 9:00am Iflipped throughthe morning shows on broadcast,clicking to Fox cable from time to time. I thought I’d make a list of what ads I saw in that time period.

Bilbray for 50th Congress: 3 Fletcher for 75th Assembly: 1 McCann for 78th Assembly: 3 Block for 78th Assembly: 1 Goldsmith for City Attorney: 1 Proposition 7 Yes: 1 Proposition 7 No: 5 Proposition 4 Yes: 1 Proposition 4 No: 1 (a particularly nasty one) Proposition 2 Yes: 2 Proposition 2 No: 1 Proposition 8 Yes: 3 Proposition 8 No: 1

I usually only watch TV early in the morning and late at night… but I think the ‘most ads’ award this year goes to No on Proposition 7 – particularly the one with the woman talking on the right half of the screen and the various endorsements and whatnot on the right side. I see that one in my sleep now.… Read More

In the San Bernardino Sun newspaper, Democrat Congressional nominee Tim Prince has an editorial printed attacking his opponent, incumbent Republican Congressman Jerry Lewis. In that piece, Prince says, "California Republican Party vice chair and publisher of the popular Flashreport.org, Jon Fleischman, calls for Lewis’ ouster and said Lewis "symbolizes the `big spending mentality’ of the House (and) should gracefully retire from Congress ."

I want to make it clear that during this period of time, between the primary and general elections, when Congressman Lewis is the duly elected nominee of the Republican Party, facing off against Prince, I have not said anything publicly critical of Congressman Lewis or his addiction to earmarking.

Prince is actually referring to this column penned in 2007. Or was it this one? Then again, it might have been… Read More

If Proposition 8 fails, my school district will teach gay marriage and Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell knows it!

Of course, school board members like me, some teachers, and some parents will resist this type of instruction. But like the Borg in the Star Trek Series, the law, education code, judges and pro-gay marriage groups will eventually force their “tolerant” view of gay marriage on all children in public schools.

This is how it will work in California public schools:

Education Code section 51933 makes it clear that schools that teach “comprehensive sex education” have to teach, “respect for marriage and committed relationships”. This is something no school district can get around.

It is the choice of school districts whether or not they teach sex education. This is why the Anti- Proposition 8 campaign and Jack O’Connell say there is no requirement to teach about marriage.

What Jack O’Connell knows but doesn’t say is that 96% of school districts teach comprehensive sex education. Those numbers are from O’Connell’s… Read More

Sometimes politics is filled with irony, and the latest commercial from the No on Proposition 5 folks is filled with it. In a rather high-profile move earlier in the week, former eBay CEO Meg Whitman opened up her checkbook and made a big contribution to the No on 5 Campaign – $250,000!

Shortly after she wrote her check, the No on 5 folks went up on television with the commercial below starring United States Senator Dianne Feinstein (I’ve seen it three times myself here in the Los Angeles media market).

The irony, of course, is that Meg Whitman has openly talked about a potential interest in running for Governor in 2010 as a Republican, and Senator Feinstein is often talked about as a potential candidate on the Democrat side of the aisle. As you start the commercial, you can see the required disclaimer at the bottom, indicating the No on 5 Committee’s major donors, including Whitman. Priceless!

On a closing note, I should say that it is getting harder and harder to figure out who actually supports Prop. 5.… Read More

I frequent a mom and pop deli and bakery near my office in D.C. This particular spot sells cookies decorated with the names of candidates for President, and the owner (a Democrat) shared a funny story with me when I inquired about the sales numbers for the Dem and Rep cookies. The store keeps an informal tally of who is "winning" vis a vis cookie sales.

It seems when Democrats choose their cookies, they do so without an intention to buy. For example, a customer might inquire about the sale and then say "put me down for two Obama cookies." But they don’t buy the cookies! While the Obama cookies are selling fast, as would be expected in D.C., the only people who ask for a tally notation without purchasing are Democrats.

Then it seems the Republicans don’t buy much during the week, but tend to buy in bulk on the weekends.

A nice little social analysis amidst the pre-election flurry.… Read More