While we limited government types rant against the absurdly generous public employee pensions throughout California, the city of Stockton’s collapse (and its now inevitable bankruptcy) shows a problem that is often bigger — and in this case, simply insane. This excerpt says it all: [The problem is] “the city’s huge unfunded guarantee for health care for retired city employees, caused …
SD Rostra helps fill Starting Gates for Senate, Judge, School Board — The Rules of Politics Have Changed!
Take a Bow, fellow Rostrafarians. Together, over the past three months, we have assembled an open-air, open-mind, nominating Convention and full-contact Rodeo. Results: (1) a top-tier candidate for SD City School Board (Mark Powell), (2) a top-tier candidate for State Senate (George Plescia), and (3) a top-tier candidate for Superior Court Judge (Gary Kreep). SD Rostra did not do this alone, …
Fletcher’s Fetcher…And More From Our First Candidate Q & A
[captionpix imgsrc=”http://sdrostra.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/web-fletcher-nathan-2012.jpg” captiontext=”Nathan Fletcher”] Politics & Media Mashup is on break for the next few weeks so we can bring you exclusive Q & As with San Diego Mayoral candidates Nathan Fletcher, Carl DeMaio and Bonnie Dumanis. We kick off this series with Fletcher. We determined the order based on when the responses to our questions were received — first …
DeMaio’s Plan to Fix Infrastructure Without Raising Taxes
ICYMI I appeared on ABC 10 News yesterday to discuss the sorry state of San Diego’s roads and my comprehensive plan to fix our crumbling infrastructure without raising taxes. http://youtu.be/NHGLLjtGijY
The Fallout from the “Fletcher, DeMaio clash over mayoral endorsements”
The exchange between the Fletcher and DeMaio campaigns over endorsements has become one of the more interesting dynamics in the Mayor’s race. The UT has a good summary of it, but here is the gist: After DeMaio was endorsed by the Building Industry Association, the Associated General Contractors and the Associated Builders and Contractors, Fletcher’s campaign spokeswoman Amy Thoma fired …
Breaking News: Plescia to run for Senate
Former Assemblyman George Plescia (R) today took out papers to seek the 39th Senate District seat, setting up what could be a classic matchup against Assemblyman Marty Block (D). I have a call into Plescia for a comment. Here is some prior Rostra coverage of the seat and its registration numbers by Jim Sills.
Andrew Breitbart, RIP
From FlashReport… by Jon Fleischman Early this morning Andrew Breitbart, a culture warrior on the right and longtime friend of mine and of the FlashReport, passed away from natural causes. He was only 43 years old, and leaves behind a beautiful family (Susie and the four young kids) and an unfinished fight. I will have more to say about …
El Cajon places Charter question on June ballot
Last night the El Cajon City Council voted to place a Charter City proposal on the June 5, 2012, ballot. Becoming a Charter City will allow El Cajon to establish greater autonomy from Sacramento and save millions of dollars in building costs. As a Charter City, El Cajon will be able to exempt itself, in certain situations, from paying prevailing …
UT San Diego: Nehring on Michigan, Arizona
Former local and state GOP Chairman Ron Nehring provides some insights on tonight’s primary results to the UT’s Christopher Cadelago… “Self-important D.C. Beltway-types trying to look clever,” Nehring tells the UT, “may continue to throw around possibilities for another candidate to emerge now or in the event of a ‘brokered convention.’” Read it all here.
Campaigning on the public dime vs. the right to campaign
Some key points on the question of whether elected officials are in violation of any laws when supporting campaign related issues… Let’s start with a “given.” In no circumstance can or should public resources be used for political campaign activity. That goes for both elected officials and their staff members while they are engaged on the public dime. Let’s hope …
Despicable Actions In Iran And Afghanistan: A Double Feature
Written by Bob Siegel and first published by Washington Times Communities on February 25, 2012. Used by permission. While a 34 year old Christian pastor awaits execution in Iran for the “crime” of converting to Christianity from Islam, other Muslims demonstrate their holiness in Afghanistan. After all, only a devout follower of God would kill those mean and nasty …
The New California Currency
This op-ed originally appeared in the Orange County Register You can’t accuse California of not being creative. You know we have reached the pinnacle in regulation when we cannot manufacture goods and services, but can manufacture a “market” for pollution. Thanks to all the unemployed investment bankers that fled Wall Street after the housing bubble burst, landing in San Francisco …
Gov. Brown overestimates CA tax revenues by $6.5 billion [feign surprise here]
No surprise for my readers, but the Jerry Brown La-La Land budget revenue projections come true only in Disney’s Fantasyland — if there! The Legislative Analyst’s Office says Governor Brown is billions and billions of dollars off — guess which way. Below is the SAC BEE “hot off the press” article, but consider this comment I added first: The eagerly …
How Sanders (Mostly) Got His Groove Back … and SD Labor Doesn’t Like It
Remember back in 2010 when the local Municipal Employees Association went crying to its state level big brother, Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), about Mayor Jerry Sanders using the power and prestige of his office to inspire and endorse Prop D, the sales tax increase? No I don’t remember that either, because it did not happen. However, I do recall …
Mayor Sanders’ Budget Announcement Grabs the Media’s Attention
Politics & Media Mashup: your weekend news aggregator leads off with big budget news from San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. Also included: Links to some of the week’s best stories about local, state and national politics as well as social and traditional media. San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders dominated the news cycle late this week with his announcement that he had finally …
City Emails on Snapdragon Name Change
I have blogged my outrage a couple of times over local crony capitalism of Jerry Sanders giving away city naming rights to Qualcomm by allowing the temporary name change to Snapdragon. The U-T posted a treasure trove of emails that paint an unflattering picture. I have excerpted two of them here. Here is the city’s CFO wondering why the city …
Monday — San Diego Mayoral Debate
Please join the San Diego Young Republicans for A San Diego Mayoral Debate We have confirmed Councilmember Carl DeMaio, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and Assemblymember Nathan Fletcher. Our Moderator the debate will be radio host Mike Slater of 760 KFMB AM WHAT: City of San Diego Mayoral Candidate Debate WHEN: Monday, February 27, 2012 6:30 P.M. Hor d’oeuvres and No …
Fleischman: Update on State GOP Convention/Platform
By Jon Fleischman The California Republican Party’s Spring Convention is almost upon us – and it is shaping up to be a great weekend. There will be a great line-up of speakers to include Presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, former Governor Tim Pawlenty, RNC Chairman Reince Preibus and RNC Co-Chairman Sharon Day, Congressman Darrell Issa to name just a few. There …
Several states cutting or eliminating their income tax
It’s tragic how some desperate states experiencing runaway state government spending are raising their income taxes to soak the rich. But for those states such as California, it’s MORE tragic that many other states are now moving to cut or eliminate their state income tax on corporations and/or individuals. This little-reported tax cutting trend rates wider publicity. Why would states …
George Washington — We Still Stand on the Shoulders of this Giant — Happy Birthday, Mr. President!
Remember the name… George Washington… on this his Birthday, February 22, 1732. He led an unprofessional, undisciplined Army against the greatest military and economic force on Earth: the British Empire. He was among the richest Men in America. He could have stayed home in the comfort and security of his Mansion, or Toured the world in style. Instead, he spent …
Recent Comments