The Rostra Archive

Guest Commentary by Mike Slater We all know almost everyone in Sacramento is full of it. So why does San Diego have to put up with the stench? When friends come to visit, the first three days are all mapped out; Coronado, Balboa, Petco, the Zoo, Soledad, you know the routine. Before we take in the sights, we always fuel …

Guest Commentary by Maureen Guffanti Don’t let California billionaire Charles Munger, Jr. buy the 76th state assembly district seat. Munger likes moderate, or RINO, Republicans, not conservatives. Conservative Sherry Hodges has extraordinary grass roots support, but will billionaire Munger succeed in buying the 76th state assembly district seat for moderate Rocky Chavez? What did Munger donate?  And who is Charles …

From the Jim Miller for Judge campaign… Benjamin Franklin is credited with saying, “A people who trade their freedom for security deserve neither.” Jim’s opponent has run on only one position; as a deputy DA he will keep us “safe” as a judge.  He brings 29 years of viewing everyone before him as a criminal. What a small window to …

by Derrick W Roach California Independent Voter Project (IVP) is a non-profit organization that purports to educate citizens and energize decline-to-state voters to participate in public dialogue and elections.  The problem is that IVP is the parent organization of a web of subsidiary organizations with officers and directors anything but independent. IVP and its related entities, Independent Voter Network (IVN) and …

Guest Commentary by Tom Del Beccaro Does campaign history repeat itself?  While political consultants, scientists and pundits would like us to believe in the complexity of the process, some simple truths remain.  When it comes to American voters, they want two things from their Presidential candidate: 1) they want to like the candidate for whom they vote, and 2) they …

Guest Commentary by Jim Babwe As important as the law is in our society, it’s also important to apply common sense to enforcement. There’s a tacit understanding among most of us that it’s possible to get a speeding ticket for driving 36 miles per hour on a road where the speed limit is 35, but it’s not likely. Technically, it’s …

In response to a Friday Rostra opinion piece by Southern Exposure, the following was submitted as a guest column. by Bernardo Vasquez Please allow me to set the record straight for you and clear up the baseless inferences you make in your story. I have been on the Sweetwater Union High School District bond oversight committee since April 2009. I became chair …

Guest Commentary by Tony Trejo At a recent debate between candidates for North County’s new 76th Assembly District, candidate Rocky Chavez was asked about an April 6, 2005, vote he made regarding the city of Oceanside’s pension debt obligations. The vote was to pass a bond to refinance the city’s debt obligations. Chavez responded by asking if anybody had refinanced …

Guest Commentary by Daniel Brainard The upcoming $33 million in budget cuts that the San Diego Superior Court faces includes the closing of some court locations, the elimination of court reporters for family and civil trials, and the scaling back of various other services. This budget does not include cutting the “luxury” car stipend that is reserved for the judges. …

Guest Commentary by Tom Del Beccaro We live in the Divided Era of American politics. Nearly equal numbers of people are now on the side of almost every political issue. This phenomenon of partisanship is neither accidental nor temporary. Throughout all of history, the larger the stakes the more divided a people and the larger the government, the larger the …

by Eric Andersen In a KOCT interview for the 76th Assembly District race, Logan Jenkins asks Rocky Chavez about his support for Cap and Trade and his belief in global warming. Chavez sums up his support for both with the slick sound bite, “I believe in science.” He supports Cap and Trade, but disapproves of the lack of budgetary transparency. …

by Ryan Clumpner Bob Filner today: “Pension obligation bonds was an idea which I talked about before the primary. That was before Prop. B was voted on. I have to implement it. These bonds are off the table. There’s nothing to talk about. They’re moot. And I wish these people had followed the campaign for the last two months.” Filner in …

Guest Commentary by Rick Alexander As a vet I’m ticked. This great nation has vowed, rightfully so, to never again treat its veterans the way we were treated during the Vietnam Era. But now it seems that if a special interest group wants anything from government or the electorate they simply attach the “veteran” label to the request, whether it …

From the Mark Powell for School Board campaign… China – 200 School Days Germany – 240 School Days

Guest Commentary by Thomas Del Beccaro California has long been a national leader. In industries such as aerospace, entertainment, agricultural and hi-tech, to name just a few, the Golden State has historically led the way. Today, however, California is the trendsetter in such statistics as unemployment, foreclosures, deficits, unfunded pension liabilities and government workers. Rather than concentrate on bringing back …

Guest Commentary by Barry Willis Never before in my history as a “likely voter” have I seen so much at stake as in this upcoming election.  As an American who, out of frustration, became a tea party organizer and who cares deeply about our country, I am very troubled by this president’s lack of leadership on so many issues. Let’s …

Guest Commentary by Rick Winet Let me begin with a question: Do you believe that greater funding for public schools equates to greater student achievement? While all parents, public school employees, and taxpayers would hope that the answer is “yes” — sadly, this is not the case. In the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District, we began significant budget reductions three …

Guest Commentary by Bill Ponder As we head into the fall election, what has become clear is that the San Diego Unified School District is an organization with lots of issues which need to be addressed.  The district is entering the third year of program improvement under NCLB (no child left behind).  There are schools within the district entering Program …