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 …
Zane: Filner has brought Washington-style partisan politics to City Hall
via The Lincoln Club of San Diego County:
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 …
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 …
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 …
Bauder’s SD Reader take on U-T’s anti-Filner ads
What are your thoughts, readers? http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/news-ticker/2013/apr/05/kpbs-investigation-u-t-discounted-anti-filner-ads/
Time to shake up the dysfunctional VA
Today’s Washington Post includes an op-ed by Rep. Duncan Hunter and Pete Hegseth, chief executive of Concerned Veterans for America, calling for a change in leadership at VA. This morning, Secretary Shinseki is before the House VA committee to discuss the VA’s latest budget request. Time to shake up the dysfunctional VA By Duncan D. Hunter and Pete Hegseth When President George …
Smoking is now a pre-existing condition
Seriously? http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/345153/smoking-preexisting-condition-kevin-d-williamson
Enjoy — my “media bias story of the day”
For your edification, here’s your media bias story of the day. For instance, NPR did a story on the “counterweight to the Tea Party” staging a protest outside the White House. Backed by numerous heavyweight leftist groups such as the AFL-CIO, Move-on, NOW, etc., the story got great media play, as all such political mega-rallies in DC deserve. But there …
Taxation Sunk The Iron Lady
“Don’t tax you, don’t tax me, tax that fellow behind the tree!”– Senator Russell B. Long As the world mourns former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, I think it’s amusing to note that a new tax scheme ultimately did in her political career. Thatcher abolished the “domestic rates” plan, an assessment based on the rental value of property, and instituted …
Want the Fracking Truth? Thursday Night Screening of “FrackNation”
College Republicans at UCSD and YAF are proud to invite you to a screening of FrackNation and a presentation by the film’s Executive Producer Ann McElhinney. The feature documentary is billed as “A journalist’s search for the fracking truth.” The event will take place at UCSD in the Multi-Purpose Room of the SSC building, this Thursday, April 11th at 7 …
Some Weekend Reads
A $10,000 California State University bachelor’s degree? by Assemblyman Dan Logue in Fox & Hounds SF Chronicle: Grover Norquist takes aim at Gov candidate Abel Maldonado KGTV 10: U-T San Diego political ad rates under scrutiny U-T San Diego: Corruption Investigation Outfall in San Ysidro – Superintendent resigns Cal Aware: Del Mar Schools to pay $42,500 after denying access to public records …
Farm subsidies highlight hypocrisy of politicians from both political parties
I wrote the following letter to the editor in response to an article gushing with praise for the insane farm bill — and the resulting farm subsidies. It was published by VOICE OF SAN DIEGO. To give it wider circulation, I’m including it here and on other blogs and social media. http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/opinion/article_718e5a9a-9d93-11e2-81b8-001a4bcf887a.html Regarding VOICE OF SAN DIEGO article “Why the …
Anderson: Latest Audit Report Proves Gross Mismanagement Continues at Caltrans
“The latest report from the State Auditor of the ineptitude of Caltrans management is appalling and not at all surprising. For the past three years, incident after incident have been revealed of Caltrans putting Californians safety at risk and wasting billions of tax dollars in the process. Yet Californians are still waiting for our Governor and Democratic super-majority to own …
69% of San Diegans Opposed Filner Proposal to Allow “Double Dipping” for ex-Politicians
San Diego – A new poll conducted by Reform San Diego shows a super-majority of San Diegans are strongly opposed to a proposal being pushed by Mayor Bob Filner to allow ex-city councilmembers to return to work for the city on a full salary while drawing a full city pension. “From the beginning, we saw this proposal as “Double Dipping” …
Two Pieces of Chavez Legislation Pass Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee
I am pleased to announce that AB 614 and AB 258 both passed out of the Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee today! Please read below for the Press Release. TWO PIECES OF CHÁVEZ LEGISLATION CLEAR FIRST LEGISLATIVE HURDLE SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Rocky Chávez (R-Oceanside) announced today that his Assembly Bills 614 and 258 cleared their first legislative hurdles. Dealing with various …
San Diego County Taxpayers Association: The Goldens are Coming
Who are those guys? Click for Event info
An Analysis of the District 4 Special Election Precinct Results
Last Tuesday, the City of San Diego held a special election to fill the vacancy left in the 4th Council District by outgoing Councilmember Tony Young. Using GIS software and data from the San Diego County Registrar of Voters and the United States Census Bureau, the National University System Institute for Policy Research conducted an analysis of the precinct results, …
In yet another surprise move, Fletcher returning to Republican Party
Although the official announcement won’t take place until later this week, SD Rostra confirmed today that former Assemblyman and 2012 San Diego mayoral candidate Nathan Fletcher is returning to the Republican Party. Fletcher caused a stir by leaving the GOP and registering non-partisan during last year’s mayoral contest, after failing to win the party’s endorsement in the race. Many political …
California Conservative Grass Roots Activists Can Reclaim the RNC—Contact Shawn Steel
In my last post, I covered how the RNC rules change changed the Republican National Convention from a volunteer-centric political process to an autocratic, candidate-focused pep rally. The Romney campaign team thought they had the general election in the bag and wanted to insure that a primary challenge, in 2016, would fail. Many convention delegates were so focused on unseating …
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