POLITICO: GOP taps Hunter and other GOP veterans for Afghan advice

Congressman Duncan HunterCongressman Duncan Hunter Leave a Comment

As a Marine lieutenant in Iraq in 2004, Duncan Hunter was poised for an assault on Fallujah when the order came down from Washington to pull out instead. It was the kind of top-down military decision — which in this case had to be reversed when security in Fallujah later deteriorated — that Hunter hopes will not be repeated in Afghanistan.

Now, five years later and a freshman congressman from California, Hunter is in a much better position to have his voice heard. As an Iraq war veteran, he has been enlisted by the House Republican leadership to help make its case that President Barack Obama should support Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s request for more troops in Afghanistan — and do it soon.

Rexford Apologists More Concerned about Disclosure than What is Right

Barry JantzBarry Jantz Leave a Comment

Saturday’s Union-Trib editorial “Rexford Must Go” (posted below) was spot on, while alluding to SD Rostra’s role — via my post — in releasing the smoking gun memo sent by the Poway city manager to Councilwoman Betty Rexford in 2006.  Some of the resulting comments on the U-T website are a testimony to the “hide the facts” attitude of Rexford …

A Note to District 7 Residents… Will Emerald Vote to Fix Your Potholes or for a $500,000 Study for a New Downtown Library?

Mr. MurphyMr. Murphy 4 Comments

Local community activists (I’m referring to real ones, not the campaign donors Councilwoman Marti Emerald gets her ‘independent’ insights from) might want to take note of tomorrow’s city council docket. Our Councilwoman will have the opportunity to either vote for a $500,000 ‘study’ for a downtown library, or to come to the conclusion that this type of wasteful spending is …

A REAL solution to Sacramento’s never-ending budget mess

RegorRegor Leave a Comment

The current and ongoing (Hopefully not forever) budget fiasco in Sacramento can give the Republican leadership (If it is still the party of fiscal conservatism, which lately, I’ve come to doubt) a chance to shine as the party that actual walks the talk regarding fiscal leadership and responsibility. Instead of just talking, the party must start seriously writing a measure …

Water conservation, alternative energy and government agencies.

RegorRegor Leave a Comment

Don’t you like how government likes to impose restrictions on business and residential users, but they rarely go out and change their landscaping or retro fits their government restrooms? On another note, I’m a stronger supporter of alternative energy; however, my household income isn’t enough to qualify for the incentives and rebates for, for examples, solar panels (and cars). Now …

Issa-Towns Reach Agreement on Countrywide Subpoena

Darrell IssaDarrell Issa Leave a Comment

Issa-Towns Reach Agreement on Countrywide Subpoena Oversight Investigators to Receive Countrywide VIP Documents and Records  WASHINGTON. D.C. – In December of 2008, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-CA) launched an investigation into Countrywide Financial Corporation’s infamous VIP and Friends of Angelo Program that exposed the inner workings of Countrywide’s efforts to buy friends in …

Poway City Manager Memo: Rexford’s Conflicts and Interference with Administration

Barry JantzBarry Jantz 7 Comments

In the midst of a recall effort against Poway Councilmember Betty Rexford, additional compelling evidence against her has been uncovered. In September 2006, Poway City Manager Rod Gould felt compelled to send a confidential memo to Rexford warning that her “recent actions constitute a conflict of interest and interference with City administration.”  The memo speaks for itself.  Read it here.

Subsidy proponent Malin Burnham says you shouldn’t get to vote

Richard Rider, Chairman, San Diego Tax FightersRichard Rider, Chairman, San Diego Tax Fighters 1 Comment

Today (10/22/09) I did a forum debate before the subsidy-seeking San Diego Downtown Partnership group.  They discussed the three downtown pyramids they want to build. I critiqued the new city hall and convention center expansion, while SDCTA CEO Lani Lutar expertly dissected the fatally flawed new downtown library proposal (she did much better than I did). Actually it was a surprisingly …

Health Insurance reform debate

Jerome StocksJerome Stocks Leave a Comment

One indisputable fact of the health care reform debate is that free care provided to the uninsured is a hidden tax on all the rest of us. It’s a hidden tax because it creates “cost shifting” which is where the costs of free care are shifted to those of us with money or private / commercial Health Insurance. The predictable result is higher …

Todd Gloria: Out of Touch With City Finances

Buck TurgidsonBuck Turgidson 1 Comment

From Gay and Lesbian Times, March 26, 2009 http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/?id=14290 The city will end 2009 with a small surplus of about $2 million. But out of a $3 billion budget, “that doesn’t give a lot of wiggle room, but it’s important to note that we are living within our means,” the District 3 councilmember said. GL Times states that Pension payments …

San Diego City Hall Needs Citizen Help to Achieve Fiscal Recovery

Vince VasquezVince Vasquez 1 Comment

(This op-ed was originally posted on San Diego News Network this week) With falling tax revenue projections from our national economic downturn, and the ongoing turmoil of a structural deficit in our local government, the City of San Diego now faces an estimated $201 million budget shortfall for Fiscal Year 2011. Thankfully for taxpayers, reaction from elected officials to this …

Once again San Diego Unified School District is predicting $100 million deficit. Possible solutions.

RegorRegor 1 Comment

Here are some very simple ways that they can save money and get more in line with other school districts in the county. 4th and 5th graders go to Old Town and Balboa Park for a week. They learn about old California and about the museums. Yes, they are great programs, but why is SDUSD the only district in the …

Rick Amato Show Honored at San Diego Press Club Journalism Awards

The Libertarian Lass, Gayle FalkenthalThe Libertarian Lass, Gayle Falkenthal 1 Comment

Congratulations to my friend and fellow radio talk show host Rick Amato for notching a BIG win at Tuesday night’s San Diego Press Club Journalism Awards. In his FIRST time ever entering this prestigious competition, Rick won first place in the Radio Interview category. The winning entry from “The Rick Amato Show Presented by The Washington Times” originally aired in …

Oversight Democrats Literally Change the Locks on the Doors

Kurt BardellaKurt Bardella Leave a Comment

Frustrated by Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Darrell Issa’s (R-CA) attempts to force an up or down on issuing a subpoena for documents/records related to Countrywide’s VIP program and for releasing an embarrassing video of Committee Democrats avoiding the vote on Thursday, Committee Chairman Edolphus Towns (D-NY) has retaliated against Committee Republicans by literally changing the locks. Politico:  …

Sticks and Stones

The Libertarian Lass, Gayle FalkenthalThe Libertarian Lass, Gayle Falkenthal 1 Comment

Recently I had a conversation with one of my clients. He commented on all the mean spirited invective being spewed by conservatives about President Obama, saying that the Democrats “never” said such horrible things about President Bush. He’s not the first person I’ve heard assert this. Talk about selective memory. During an exclusive interview with CBS Radio reporter Peter Maer …

Republicans and Independents: Very Little Voice On Marti Emerald’s “Advisory Council”

Mr. MurphyMr. Murphy 6 Comments

When asked about her community “Advisory Council” (which was the following day found to be largely her political campaign donors) Councilwoman Marti Emerald stated that the reason for the group was that she wanted “something a little more independent”. Really, that sounds great. But with old Marti, the Devil is in the details, and it’s increasingly clear there is a …

DeMaio: Shelving Downtown Library Will Save $63M in General Fund

Erica MendelsonErica Mendelson 1 Comment

Councilmember Carl DeMaio released a memo today showing the major impact the new Downtown Library project will have on the city’s General Fund which faces a staggering $200 million deficit. Read the memo here. From the SDUT PolBlog: By shelving a new downtown library, the city could save as much as $63 million over the next five years, according to a fiscal analysis …

Breaking… Rexford’s Husband Said to Threaten Neighbor with “Gun”

Barry JantzBarry Jantz 12 Comments

***Breaking News*** Whether or not you’ve been following the saga of Poway Councilwoman Betty Rexford, the documented harassment of her neighbors, and the resulting recall effort against her (here’s some background), the following breaking information from today really takes the cake. I am told that this morning Rexford and her husband Paul were sitting in their car at the end …