This just in: Taxpayer TV’s Got the Goods
San Diego Rostra’s street reporters have been working their sources all day, and it’s paid off! We’ve gotten our hands on exclusive video from last night’s San Diego County Taxpayers Association Golden Fleece and Watchdog Awards, and we’re sharing it now with our Rostra readers.
OK, who are we kidding? This isn’t like a Lindsay Lohan exclusive. SDCTA granted permission for us to post it. But that doesn’t make it any less funny.
The “picture postcard” mailer is a political evergreen — an elected official supposedly writing from an exotic locale, rather than being in their work office. Here’s one from 2012, a well-crafted example from the Juan Vargas for Congress campaign lampooning former State Senator Denise Ducheny. Both seek the Congressional seat now held by Bob Filner. Xanthi Gionis and Michael Crimmins are the GOP hopefuls… This is the 2nd in my series, “When Democrats ATTACK (each other)”.
The Evil Alliance
Tony Krvaric, Bob Filner and T.J. Zane enjoying the Taxpayers Association dinner. Note Congressman Filner’s campaign button.
At Least the Fleece Awards Were Cute: SDCTA Hands Out 2012 Goldens
Smart governing decisions saving taxpayer dollars and collaborative initiatives took top honors, while cavalier attitudes and lost opportunities were called out and shamed at the San Diego County Taxpayers Association (SDCTA)’s 17th annual Goldens Awards Dinner, held at the Town and Country Resort & Convention Center in Mission Valley.
Fletcher Releases Vision for Port and Maritime Economy
Mayoral candidate Nathan Fletcher today laid out his vision to energize San Diego’s maritime economy with a plan to make the city’s port the “World’s Most Innovative”.
“In the Fletcher Administration, our port will be the catalyst and epicenter for a new innovative maritime technology cluster, churning out new ideas and generating new jobs for our region,” said Fletcher. “As Mayor, I want to use my role as a regional leader to help promote the Port and the maritime industry and create good-paying, permanent jobs.”
Belly Up To The Bar 2: The Official Goldens Drinking Game
Just in time could be my life’s mantra. I am reminded by Thor’s Assistant that no Official Drinking Game has been devised for tonight’s epic 17th annual San Diego County Taxpayers Golden Fleece and Watchdog Awards.
Calling Ms. Tipit to the rescue.
DISCLAIMER: In this litigious, risk-averse society, we must pause here to admonish anyone reading this column that it is strictly for entertainment purposes ONLY. Please drink responsibly if at all. Please do not be a dunderhead and drink and tweet/post/drive, or you will be the next person we write about on Rostra and it won’t be pretty.
How did the feds end up pushing bullet trains? Maybe you don’t want to know.
Read this short but bizarre story of how our federal government decided to spend $20 billion on high speed rail boondoggles — from Chris Reed’s blog. I’ve seen more thought go into picking Lotto numbers.
Whose idea was it to push bullet trains? Rahm Emanuel’s doctor brother. I feel ill.
by Chris Reed
KEY EXCERPT:
The roughest fights are often primary races, and here are the two toughest mail pieces I’ve seen in 2012. Scott Peters’ campaign accuses Lori Saldana of being a big business lap dog, voting for “tax giveaways” after taking corporate-paid travel (as a state legislator) to Rio De Janeiro, Germany and Argentina, with luxury hotels and “personal butlers.” Saldana talks tough on limiting corporate power, Peters’ mail suggests, but she really represents “Pay to Play.”
Texts From Mayoral Candidates: Part IV
We texted the following image to each of the San Diego mayoral candidates and asked them, “What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you see this photo?”
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Here are their replies:
I’m so fortunate…Papa Doug has no idea I’m gay.
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I used to read that rag but I’ve switched to Voice of San Diego.
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There’s no port there either!!
Nathan Fletcher Silences DeMaio Camp
“It’s unfortunate the DeMaio campaign doesn’t believe it’s an effective use of Nathan’s time to work with the Democratic Governor, Democratic Speaker, Democratic Pro Tempore and Republican Caucus Chair to protect children from sexual predators. The DeMaio campaign’s attacks only highlight the difference between Nathan who works with both sides to solve problems versus DeMiao who prefers pitchforks, press conferences and protests.”
-Amy Thoma
Chelsea’s Law back on track
Brown drops bid to let counties delay implementation
UT San Diego
By Michael Gardner
May 15, 2012
New TV Spot Highlights Dumanis’ Bold Plan to Fix City Schools
Focusing on her commitment to fix San Diego’s schools, District Attorney and Mayoral candidate Bonnie Dumanis released a third television ad highlighting her eight-point education reform plan: ‘Framework for America’s Finest Schools.’
“I’m the only one with a bold plan to fix city schools and the experience to get it done,” says Dumanis in the spot, which is running on multiple stations in the San Diego market.
Future Fletcher Voters in Poway?
On Monday night, mayoral candidate Nathan Fletcher held an unusual teletown hall according to a couple of people who contacted me. One would think it was a campaign forum with Fletcher talking about himself and why he thinks he should be mayor.
One problem: The people who told me about the forum live outside the City of San Diego; specifically in Poway. So what is the mayoral candidate doing talking to people who can’t vote in the upcoming election?
The labor unions’ private sector pension bomb
Below is today’s lead editorial from the WALL ST JOURNAL. While we concentrate mostly on government pension problems, this worthy piece delves into the PRIVATE defined benefit morass — the “multiple employer”pensions the private unions have put in place in a number of industries.
Like public pensions, dishonestly is rife in this sector. Maybe even more so. Consider this excerpt:
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Labor’s actuarial reading of one SEIU fund for health-care employees finds it 100.4% funded. Credit Suisse’s fair-value reading finds it 49.6% funded—or some $6.8 billion in the hole.
Fletcher skips 35 floor votes today, plus controversial tax committee vote
Assemblyman Fletcher maintained his impeccable 70% 71% absence rate today.
The State Assembly voted on 35 proposed laws today, bringing Fletcher’s total missed votes to a whopping 263 this year.
In addition to the floor votes, Assemblyman Fletcher skipped a vote on a controversial tax increase that was voted on in the Revenue and Taxation committee. For the full story, see the DeMaio press release earlier today: http://carldemaio.com/news/2012/05/14/will-fletcher-vote-controversial-tax-increase-today
Bonnie Dumanis Deserves Her Pension…
KPBS published interviews with all the major San Diego mayoral candidates over the weekend. In Bonnie Dumans’s interview she revealed she’s “earned” her $200,000 pension but doesn’t think others should have one. See below:
http://www.kpbs.org/news/2012/may/14/bonnie-dumanis-says-she-deserves-pension-supports-/
District Attorney and mayoral candidate Bonnie Dumanis says when she retires, she stands to earn just under $200,000 for her pension. She also supports Proposition B, which would put an end to pensions for new city employees and give them 401(k)-style plans instead.
Proposition B Will End Pension Spiking
Channel 10 News and polling firm Survey USA just released a new Mayoral Poll and their conclusion is that “Carl DeMaio appears to have locked-up one of two runoff spots … with a fierce fight for the second runoff position … On Monday, Council member DeMaio gets 31%, Nathan Fletcher and Rep. Bob Filner tie for the second runoff spot, each with 21%. Bonnie Dumanis is further back.”
After a Rough Week, What Does Team Fletcher Have in Store?
It was a rough week for Team Fletcher. Let’s recap the week’s events.
Sunday (5/6/12)
- The BIG endorsement of Carl DeMaio from the UT San Diego.
Monday (5/7/12)
- A mailpiece highlighted Nathan’s record of voting for tax increases.
San Diego tea party Proposition Recommendations
My fellow SLOB, W.C. Varones, has posted tea party recommendations for this June’s ballot. Since there is no official tea party position, and everyone can claim a leadership role in the tea party, I am following suit. I am a resident of the city of San Diego, so I am not covering propositions in El Cajon, Oceanside or other areas. On to the props – I am using my own shortened and more accurate versions of the titles. Don’t like my characterizations? Tough, get your own blog; free speech rocks.
Gov. Jerry Brown: State budget deficit now $16 billion
Gov. Jerry Brown said in a video release today that California’s budget deficit has mushroomed to $16 billion, nearly twice as high as the $9.2 billion he estimated in January.
Gosh, what a stunning revelation! Who’d a thunk it?
But the good news is that it’s not Assemblyman’s Nathan Fletcher’s fault. He wasn’t at his post in Sacramento, so no responsibility for this deterioration falls on his shoulders.
How Was DeMaio’s Private-Sector Work Different from a CPA or Attorney?
Guest Column
by Brian Brady
The far-left (and Nathan Fletcher, when finding it politically convenient to join the far left) criticize Mayoral candidate Carl DeMaio for his private-sector business success:
“I do find it interesting that you made all your money off of government contracts and you say people shouldn’t have wages or salary out of line (with the private sector) when you made millions of dollars off of government,” Fletcher said during a February debate.
U-T Editor Puts Paper in Awkward Position
Politics & Media Mashup
Some believe Nathan Fletcher is at war with U-T San Diego. I wouldn’t call it war, but relations certainly are chilly.
Fletcher’s expectations for his morning newspaper aren’t what they used to be. That might not be a big deal if the election wasn’t less than a month away.
What Nathan Missed…
Assemblyman Fletcher edited out the last part of the KUSI story in his web video that can be seen below.
No sad music, but here is the rest:
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