Rostra Rocks, Rostra Rolls to Three San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards

The Libertarian Lass, Gayle FalkenthalThe Libertarian Lass, Gayle Falkenthal 4 Comments

Pardon us for just a moment while we at Rostra congratulate ourselves and each other for having our humble political blog honored for the third year running at the 2012 San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards. San Diego Rostra won in the following categories: Second Place, Websites: Blog – News and Opinion Second Place, Websites: Blog – Topic …

Guns, Lies, and Gunning Liars

South Bay SunnycrestSouth Bay Sunnycrest 3 Comments

A political “gun fight” of sorts rang out late last week when American Federation of Teachers, Local 1931 threw some funding behind a hit piece on San Diego Community College Trustee candidate, Scott Hasson. North County Times wrote about the attack, which claimed Hasson had advocated open carry for college students. Zero source citing, zero quotes, and zero credibility, I say. …

HJTA going after bogus rural fire “fee” – lawsuit!

Richard Rider, Chairman, San Diego Tax FightersRichard Rider, Chairman, San Diego Tax Fighters 2 Comments

If you or your California rural friends and family are subject to the rural fire “fee,” help may be on the way.  The Jarvis group is after ’em.  HJTA has filed a class action lawsuit against this farce — on behalf of the 825,000 rural property owners. Encourage any folks affected by this bogus “fee” to join the effort.  And …

Council Unanimously Approves DeMaio’s “Sunshine Act” Ordinance

Carl DeMaioCarl DeMaio Leave a Comment

DeMaio’s Sunshine Act Makes San Diego One of “Most Open and Transparent City Governments in the Nation” In a bipartisan effort the San Diego City Council voted unanimously today to approve Councilmember Carl DeMaio’s “Sunshine Act” ordinance. The legislation authored by DeMaio is designed to impose tough disclosure and transparency reforms on City Hall. DeMaio praised his Council colleagues for …

Block lies about his ‘Get out of Jail Free Card’ for violent offenders

George PlesciaGeorge Plescia Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 CONTACT:  Clinton Soffer October 21, 2012                                                      858-254-9179 BLOCK LIES ABOUT  HIS ‘GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD’ FOR VIOLENT OFFENDERS San Diego – During an appearance on NBC 7’s Politically Speaking hosted by Gene Cubbison, Assemblyman Marty Block lied about the violent prisoners currently being released into local neighborhoods because of his support of and vote for …

Encinitas Watch: Campaign Signs and Ethical Behavior

Guest ColumnGuest Column 17 Comments

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 …

Obama, Romney, and Crowley: When Is a Terrorist Not a Terrorist?

Bob SiegelBob Siegel Leave a Comment

Originally published by Communities @ Washington Times SAN DIEGO, October 20, 2012 — Last Tuesday night, our presidential candidates were supposed to participate in a debate. The evening may have displayed a lot of theatrics, but the real debate began one minute after CNN’s chief political correspondent, Candy Crowley said good night. The discussion continues even now between bloggers, columnists, …

If one side is “anti-tax” — is not the other side “pro-tax”?

Richard Rider, Chairman, San Diego Tax FightersUndesignated Leave a Comment

The commonly-heard term “anti-tax group” is interesting. If you oppose tax INCREASES, then you are labeled by the press as “anti-tax.” Really? I doubt that almost any of the opponents of tax increases want to do away with taxes, but that’s the inference. Okay, fair is fair.  What should we call the groups that always want to RAISE our taxes? …

Marty Block fails to protect our children, asks for a promotion

Thor's AssistantPress Releases / Media Advisories Leave a Comment

MARTY BLOCK FAILS TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN, ASKS FOR A PROMOTION Web video released calling out Assemblyman Block for failing to protect our children, then asking for a promotion to State Senator FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19 CONTACT: TONY KRVARIC (858) 699-3000 SAN DIEGO — Today the Republican Party of San Diego County released a web video calling out Assemblyman Marty …

Vasquez: Setting the record straight

Guest ColumnGuest Column 6 Comments

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 …

California jobs picture still as dismal as bottom of recession

Richard Rider, Chairman, San Diego Tax FightersUndesignated Leave a Comment

What’s driving the unemployment rates down? Is the economy really booming? More important for us Golden State residents, why is California still doing so poorly compared to the other states? Here are some answers. http://riderrants.blogspot.com/2012/10/california-jobs-picture-still-as-dismal.html There are four factors suggested for our nation’s relatively improving unemployment figures. 1.  More private sector hiring. 2.  More of the “unemployed” dropping out of …

Pension debt? Chavez put it on the credit card

Guest ColumnGuest Column Leave a Comment

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 …

Is America Being Held Hostage By Undecided Voters?

Bob SiegelBob Siegel 1 Comment

Originally published by Communities @Washington Times SAN DIEGO, October 16, 2012 —Yes, it’s that wonderful time of the election year, those last few weeks. Primaries and conventions have long since faded away in the rear view mirror. The lips of candidates are still sore from all the behinds they kissed within their party bases. Now they set out to court …

The Buck Stops Here: Mike Hansen in San Marcos and Richard Bailey in Coronado

Brian BradyBrian Brady Leave a Comment

San Diego County limited government activists have two reasons to be enthusiastic next month:  San Marcos’ Mike Hansen and Coronado’s Richard Bailey are running for City Council seats in their respective cities.  Both gentlemen are under 30, both are active in the local Republican Party (Hansen as a donor and volunteer and Bailey as a donor and Central Committee Member), …

Bernardo Vasquez Opposes Transparency – Bond Oversight Member Yet to Disclose Finances and Potential Conflicts of Interest

Southern ExposureSouthern Exposure 18 Comments

As of October 15th, 2012, Bernardo Vasquez, an insurance salesman, still has not turned in a statement of economic interest (Form 700) with the Sweetwater Union High School District. The School District in an effort to increase transparency started requiring Proposition O Bond Oversight Committee Members to turn in Statements of Economic Interest this year. These statements were due by …