[captionpix imgsrc=”http://sdrostra.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/IMG_1965.jpg” captiontext=”Dwayne Crenshaw and me”] Most 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 …
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: Shapiro, the …
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. If one …
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 …
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. …
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, …
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 …
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 …
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