Tsarnaev brothers: Should America ignore their Muslim affiliation?
Originally published by Communities @ Washingon Times
SAN DIEGO, April 21, 2013 — Once again, our country was assaulted by terrorists. Once again they were Muslim. Once again, we are being cautioned by academicians and politicians alike not to rush to judgment.
The talking points can be summed up like so: “Despite, their religious affiliation, perhaps these two Chechen brothers, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (captured) and Tamerlan Tsarnaev (dead) had some other motive for trying to kill just as many people as possible during Boston’s Patriots’ Day race. Even if they were acting as Muslims, they were only distorting and misrepresenting a beautiful, peaceful religion. A couple of bad apples don’t spoil the whole bunch.”
Dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center
from the George W. Bush Facebook site…
On April 25, 2013, President and Mrs. Bush commemorated the completion of the George W. Bush Presidential Center — home to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum and the George W. Bush Institute. The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum is located on the campus of Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas, and is the 13th Presidential Library.
Is the American Lung Association’s “F” Awarded to San Diego County Actually Junk Science?
by Richard Rider, Chairman
San Diego Tax Fighters
I sent out the following as a press release the same day (4/24/13) that the American Lung Association released its annual “the sky is poison” press release. The press regurgitated the ALA story (such scares make for improved ratings and great teaser ads), and ignored my caveats. I’ve edited my release since then – to add a bit.
———-
Judge Pirro to Boston bombers’ mom: We should not be required to breathe the same air as you.
Judge Jeanine Pirro takes on the mother of the Boston bombing suspects. It’s absolutely worth a read…
In New York Harbor stands a mighty woman with a torch, beckoning the huddled masses yearning to breathe free, and the wretched refuse from tempest tossed shores to her as she lifts her lamp beside the golden door.
And they were by all accounts just that — a family fleeing a tyrannical government. A family seeking political asylum. The very people to whom that mighty woman holds out her welcoming torch.
You’re gonna love this. Turns out, the goofy process of the first CA HSR construction contract favors the husband of U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein! The final contract has not been issued, as further negotiations with bidders are still to be completed. But the Feinstein group has won the “leading candidate” designation — which makes them the odds-on favorite to land the contract.
Why didn’t Governor Patrick lock down the whole Commonwealth of Massachusetts?
…or Massachusetts and the surrounding states? …or the whole country?
I logged into Facebook last Friday evening as I rode the train home from downtown San Diego. I was thrilled to see that the second suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing was apprehended. Facebook friends were posting nice tributes to the Boston PD on their status updates. I was even chastised by a progressive friend for stating on my update that “Friday was a great day in downtown San Diego but, more importantly, we funded a loan for a Navy veteran.”. He thought I should have been using Facebook to celebrate the Boston PD’s heroic police work.
EXPOSE’ — FAA is INTENTIONALLY causing massive airline flight delays to punish taxpayers
The story is out that the FAA is INTENTIONALLY causing massive airline flight delays to coerce the public into voting for tax increases. See the WALL ST JOURNAL editorial below.
Never have we seen a more stark difference between President Reagan and President Obama. Does ANYONE believe for an instant that the FAA brass would have organized such a work stoppage if Reagan were in office? Remember what happened to the air traffic controllers who decided to go on strike. Reagan fired ‘em.
Filner hires retired CAO Ekard
Press Release
MAYOR FILNER HIRES FORMER COUNTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE WALT EKARD TO CONSULT ON ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS
(SAN DIEGO) – Mayor Bob Filner has hired Walter F. Ekard, the former Chief Administrative Officer for the County of San Diego, to provide strategic advice on the organizational structure and effectiveness of the City of San Diego.
While at the County, Ekard managed a workforce of 15,000 employees and an annual budget of $5 billion. He has known Mayor Filner for more than 25 years.
SDCTA Announces Finalists for Good Governance, Media Watchdog Awards
Winners to be Recognized at SDCTA’s 18th Annual Goldens Awards Dinner on May 9th
San Diego — April 24 2013: The San Diego County Taxpayers Association (SDCTA) today announced the finalists (see list below) for its annual Golden Watchdog, Media Watchdog and Public Private Partnership “Golden” award categories. Winners will be honored at a special dinner at the San Diego Marriot Marquis & Marina on Thursday, May 9.
Chavez’s AB 13: Good for Veterans and California
Last weekend, we all read a blog post with some negative commentary about my policies and Assembly Bill 13, a piece of legislation I am carrying. My friend Chip Dykes took the liberty of sending me a piece he submitted to SD Rostra as a response of his own. Apparently he submitted the piece two days ago. In the interest of getting it in front of the readers, I decided to post it myself.
Chavez’s AB 13: Good for Veterans and California
Popaditch leaving San Diego to join Teach for America Corps
from former Congressional candidate Nick Popaditch…
I have been offered a position in the 2013 Teach For America Corps to teach secondary math (grades 7-12) in the Mississippi Delta. April and I are excited about this new mission, including the new scenery. Changing lives and the world, 30 students at a time. What a great mission — one suitable for a Marine.
The next chapter begins…
-Gunny Pop
May 3 Lincoln Reagan Dinner nearly sold out
from the local GOP…
We are DAYS away from selling out the 2013 Lincoln-Reagan Dinner which takes place the evening of Friday, May 3rd. There are only 19 tickets left for this annual marquee event that is sure to be an evening to remember: the DO-NOT-MISS event of the year.
You wanna win? Be present
Dwayne Crenshaw and meMost people know nothing about local politicians and just about everyone else knows one or two things about them. So if the one thing a politician is known for is charm, he or she is probably winning on Election Day.
I haven’t seen any research that tells me this but it’s a theory that makes sense to me. To find out what I’m talking about, chat up San Diego City Council President Todd Gloria. He packs a lot of charm into a 60-second conversation. Gloria, and successful politicians like him, have a genuine interest in people.
San Diego Hotel Tax Update
In a ruling that certainly disappoints, Judge Steven Denton has dismissed the lawsuit of Mel Shapiro challenging the 2% hotel tax that supports the San Diego Tourism Management District (TMD). The suit was dismissed on the technical grounds that Mr. Shapiro lacked standing to file the suit because he was not an affected hotel owner.
From the U-T:
GOP Assemblyman Rocky Chavez Pushing New Subsidies — Disappointing
AB 13 – my bill to grant #Veterans in-state tuition – just passed out of Asm. Vets Affairs Committee! Next stop, Assembly Approps
— Rocky Chavez (@AsmRocky) April 16, 2013
RIDER COMMENT
I found this Tweet rather unsettling. As I see it, this Rocky Chavez bill is a bad start for our new San Diego County GOP Assemblyman.
Boston Marathon Bombing: Talk Moves Faster Than Fact
Originally published by Communities @ Washington Times
SAN DIEGO, April 16, 2013 ― In the wake of an event more horrible than the original “Boston Massacre,” our bewildered country tries to make sense out of yesterday’s nightmare. At the moment, we have very few answers. It only took a split second for two bomb blasts to transform a beloved Boston tradition into a heart wrenching tragedy that will be remembered every Patriots’ Day for many years to come.
Taxpayers Association Names Felipe Monroig President & CEO
Eyes On the Bully’s Pulpit
Today is the launch of a new column, “Eyes on the Bully’s Pulpit.”
Most political wonks involved in City of San Diego politics have heard numerous stories about the actions or inactions of Mayor Bob Filner, with many experiencing some of the most interesting incidents first hand. Some of his actions may very well cross the bounds of political ethics. If it all continues, it could set San Diego’s reputation back for years.
Boston Tragedy: Just what were they thinking?
“After every national tragedy, you can be sure that some clueless brand will try to exploit it. In today’s episode of ‘What the hell were they thinking,’ the food website Epicurious sent out the following tweets to its 385,000 followers”…
Read it at Mr. Media Training.
I’ll add this…
Along with every politician of any party with no connection to the situation, yet who feels the need to rush out a statement of condolence.
College Republicans at UCSD review FrackNation
I watched the documentary Fracknation last week and heard producer Ann McElhinney field questions afterwards. The event was co-sponsored by the UCSD chapters of College Republicans and Young America’s Foundation. Freshman Jonathan Natale responded to my request for a summary of the evening:
by Jonathan Natale:
On Thursday, April 11, the College Republicans at UC San Diego shared in the excitement of hosting Ann McElhinney, a nationally acclaimed investigative journalist who co-directed the film FrackNation, regarding the controversy surrounding hydraulic fracturing. 
Zane: Filner has brought Washington-style partisan politics to City Hall
Faulconer on Mayor Filner’s budget: ‘Repeats the mistakes of City Hall’s past’
For Immediate Release: April 15, 2013
Contact: Matt Awbrey, Communications Director – (619) 929-0089
Councilmember Faulconer’s Statement on Mayor Filner’s 2013-2014 Budget Proposal
SAN DIEGO — Today, Councilmember Kevin Faulconer released the following statement regarding Mayor Filner’s proposed Fiscal Year 2014 budget.
“Instead of continuing with fiscal discipline, accountability and fully implementing voter-approved managed competition, Mayor Filner’s proposed budget repeats the mistakes of City Hall’s past. The Mayor’s budget further delays critically needed street repair projects yet increases other government spending for years into the future by raiding the City’s savings accounts and gambling our stability on future revenue growth.”
UPDATED: REASON’s California High-Speed Rail Due Diligence Report
Here’s an updated version of the superb 2008 REASON due diligence report on CA High-Speed Rail. The key point to remember is that every flaw that REASON’s original report pointed out has since been validated — though usually UNDERestimated in magnitude. This is the executive summary, with links to the full report for those who want to know more.
http://reason.org/studies/show/california-high-speed-rail-report
REASON Foundation
California High-Speed Rail: An Updated Due Diligence Report
More Caltrans skewering from Joel Anderson
From Senator Joel Anderson…
In case you missed it, I wrote an op-ed that appeared in this morning’s San Diego Union Tribune which called for a drastic change in the Caltrans culture of corruption and urged my colleagues to vote against the nomination of Acting Director Malcolm Dougherty. Some of the highlights of the op-ed include:
Under Dougherty’s leadership over the last three years, Caltrans has:
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