California

California is broke, 2010 budget edition

Last month Californians were shocked to find that the state stealthily jacked up payroll taxes by 10%.  Republicans in the legislature voted overwhelmingly against it, but of course, there were like 2 of them left.  Sly accounting tricks couldn't save the state again for a $21 billion budget deficit projected for 2010.  The Democrat in charge of the budget in the Assembly has given up,

"I can't think of any good solutions," said Assemblywoman Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), who chairs the lower house budget committee. 

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-budget-deficit18-2009nov18,0,7647152.story

She's a lot more honest than the Dems in every level of government have been so far .  

If It Quacks, It Must Be A Marxist

by  Rose Pedenko and Tanya Simon 

In American politics, the fringe groups of the left, right and center sooner or later end up accusing the sitting President of the United States of being a Nazi, a Marxist or a Communist.  Such references are usually punctuated by cartoons of the luckless leader sporting a Hitlerian moustache, a fuzzy beard and wild smoky hair, or perhaps even a handlebar moustache below a leering look.  By way of example, if you Google “Bush and Hitler” you get well over nine million hits. 

Until now, it was semi-amusing to blow off steam with this kind of partisan ram-rodding.  It seemed harmless because “everyone does it.”  And we would laugh it off because we knew in our hearts that all the jabbing was no more than satire run amok.  That was then. 

This is now: 

In the frenetic months leading up to the 2008 presidential election, conservative pundits railed against Barack Obama’s questionable alliances, specifically Bill Ayers, Tony Rezco, George Soros, and the Reverend Jeremiah Wright.  Sean Hannity of FoxNews initiated an unrelenting and unyielding charge against the candidate’s suspicious leftist associations, tracing the dubious connections as far back as Obama’s childhood.  But the powerful and fawning mainstream media were able to block, distort, distract, and disengage from what Hannity and others tried to present as nothing more than a smear campaign against their chosen one.  They were blinded by Obama’s shining smile and the opportunity to make politically correct history.  History has been made, but it’s been extraordinarily incorrect. 

Try as they might, the conservative talking heads barely put a chink in the armor the MSM had dressed Obama in since his rousing 2004 speech at the DNC.  That was the day, nigh, the moment, when the lights went on in the heads of the leftist power elite -- that here was the malleable shining star who could and would make the changes they so desperately tried to effect since the last Great Depression.  “Last” you say?  Yes, because creating the second Great Depression is the aim of this administration: to crush the hearts and minds of the citizenry until we accept their brand of redistributive change. 

Conservatives in both public and private life who speak on behalf of our Constitutional rights and against this maelstrom have been ruthlessly branded by lefties, liberal journalists, RINOs, and the press with just about every hostile and threatening moniker.  It’s not unlike the way the Nazis slapped the yellow cut-out Star of David on Jews throughout Germany and in countries overrun by the Third Reich.  The Jews of Europe had no one to speak freely on their behalf without fear of retribution, and that silence contributed to the destruction of European Jews. 

Today, an American – a white knight – has charged forth to expose the brutish attempts to wreck our country.  He is working hard to help with the recovery of conservatism and lead the counterattack to save the former “United” States of America.  That knight is Glenn Beck. 

Practically from his debut he has been the object of extreme ridicule (the usual thread-worn defense mechanism of liberals).  He’s been called a circus clown, a raging alcoholic, a moron, or, as Stephen King referred to him, “Satan’s mentally challenged younger brother.”  But this time the sticks and stones are bouncing off his proud chest like the proverbial shit hitting the fan -- and it’s landing square on the smug faces of Bill Maher, Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews and David Letterman.  And the sludge is coming in the form of stratospheric ratings for Glenn Beck and Fox News. 

Beck has repeatedly pointed out that Obama’s message has been unambiguous with respect to his revolutionary intentions.  Beck’s exhortations were not innuendo or speculation but direct, factual quotes and video footage of then candidate Obama which would hold up in any court of law.  But Americans, largely shielded by the utopian fantasies of the leftist media, did not, or wished not, to hear or see the truth. 

Even David Von Drehle has proffered in Time Magazine, albeit in a backhanded way, “…Whom do you trust?  Either the corrupt, communist-loving traitors on the left are causing this, or it's the racist, greedy warmongers on the right, or maybe the dishonest, incompetent, conniving media, which refuse to tell the truth about whomever you personally happen to despise.” 

At the Huffington Post, Camille Paglia recently wrote, “The mainstream media's failure to honestly cover last month's mass demonstration in Washington, D.C. was a disgrace. The focus on anti-Obama placards (which were no worse than the rabid anti-LBJ, anti-Reagan or anti-Bush placards of leftist protests), combined with the grotesque attempt to equate criticism of Obama with racism, simply illustrated why the old guard TV networks and major urban daily newspapers are slowly dying. Only a simpleton would believe what they say.” 

Green jobs adviser, Van “Republicans are a bunch of assholes” Jones, resigned purportedly so as not to distract from Obama’s agenda.  Gosh, we wonder why.  And then this past week, Obama’s Mao-worshipping Communications Director, Anita Dunn, has also resigned.  Two down, and several Marxists (dots that Beck has already connected) to go, are waiting in the wings, eager to sacrifice themselves for their greater god, uh, good. 

Over the last few months, Beck has ingenuously presented facts and pointed questions about everyone surrounding Barack Obama and those within his inner sanctum.  You just can’t make this stuff up, and everyone knows it.  Beck is smart, but even he could not concoct the shocking pyramid of leftists with direct access to the most powerful man on earth.  The presidential minions have been given ample opportunity to refute possible misstatements of fact or opinion, but they have instead chosen to ignore the commentary in the mistaken belief that their silence would be interpreted as not lending credence to those facts and opinions.  

It is no secret – and no surprise to conservatives – that Obama & Co. (the duplicitous Democrat-controlled Congress) are forging the chains of socialistic enslavement of the American People, and pulling our country apart at the seams.  But Beck’s relentless search for the truth is growing exponentially, so much so that the upcoming American Revolt of 2010 already is being felt around the world. 

The freedom that we cherish, which was born from the precepts and principles of our sacred Constitution, is a “one size fits all” gift from our founding fathers – from those individuals who put their lives on the line and holding that line against oppression.  No one person or group is granted either more or less — everyone is equal in freedom. 

And so we conclude: “If it walks like a Marxist, quacks like a Marxist, looks like a Marxist, you can bet it’s not a duck.”

Sacramento City College Crushes Student's Free Speech

For Constitution Day this year at Sacramento City College Associated Student Government (ASG) President and student Steve Macias arranged for a group named Genocide Awareness Project, an anti-abortion group, to participate on campus in the Constitution Day activities.

The group was approved for participation by the ASG and set up its booth at the appointed time. And then the world came to an end. Pro-Infanticide groups such as Planned Parenthood set up their own, countering booths the next day and left-wing hatemongers in the student body immediately began to circulate a recall petition to have Mr. Macias removed from the Associated Student Government leadership.

There is also some speculation that this insane, un-American recall effort being visited upon Mr. Macias is being tacitly approved of by the College adviser overseeing the ASG.

Even the local press tried to pile onto an attack of Mr. Macias. The SacCity Express originally reported on October 13 that Macias presented the anti-abortion group under a false name when he submitted the group for the vote of the ASG board. On the 26th the paper printed a retraction admitting their "mistake."

On his FaceBook site, Mr. Macias also reports that one of Sacramento College's professors has engaged in a nasty email exchange with the student, too. "Why Do these teachers feel that it is there role to put us students down?" Macias asks. "I am deeply offended that an instutution that taxpayers pay for and pay to attend would allow this individual to clearly descriminate against people of faith. Calling Christianity 'make believe.' is unacceptable dialougue from Teacher to student. Especially when you seek out and attack the student."

Amusingly, with her quote on the matter, ASG Vice President Debbie Dixon proved that her parent's money is being sorrowfully wasted on her failed education.

“I am highly offended, I have rights, just as they have rights to not be offended!”

Sorry Debbie, dear, but there is NO "right" not to be offended. The Constitution safeguards political free speech but it does not safeguard your right "not to be offended." No one has a right not to be offended because such a right would preclude everyone else's right to free speech in the first place. After all, what one person feels is right and good to say someone else somewhere will find offense contained therein. So, dear, dear, lil' Debbie, no one has a right not to be offended. But, I do have to say, I am offended by your ignorance.

So, what we see with this dispiriting case is typical of the distempered left. All these caring, civilized, open minded, more tolerant lefties are in full attack mode trying to shut down the free speech of people with whom they disagree... as always. Sadly, that's the fascist, Obamaesque sort of actions we are coming to expect from the extreme left and the bubble ensconced, pointy-headed, ivory tower dwellers in academe, isn't it?

Ban Bags, Get Sick

Most everyone supports a clean environment.  But many environmentalists fail to recognize the need for balance.  One of the latest examples of environmental extremism is the campaign to punish or even ban the use of plastic bags.

What the right needs to do to regain acceptance and credibility by the mainstream

The right has lost its way and a lot of people are starting to recognize this.  Books are being written (The Death of Conservatism, Republican Gomorrah: Inside the Movement that Shattered the Party, etc.)  Here are my thougths on what is wrong and what needs to be done about it.

Discredit those who are not helpful

Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, etc. have said a lot of downright crazy and dumb things (people with AIDS should be quarantined, etc.)  and are far too tied to Christianity.  They should be called out for that and pushed to the side so that true leaders on the right can rise to the top and give the right a real chance at regaining credibility and the minds of those who are undecided or in the center.  Those who espose hate, and anger should also be discredited and pushed to the side (Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, etc.).  It is long past time for Conservative talk radio to become more academic, constructive, and hopeful sounding, and cater to the best in us (love, hope, unity, civics, etc.), rather than the worst (fear, anger, race, etc.).

Stop catering to the Christian right

Christianity has nothing to do with conservative ideas and theory on money, foreign policy, etc.  There is also supposed to be a strong seperation of church and state.  Our country was formed partially for freedom of religion, and if our government is run by someone who wants to impose their religion through laws and perspective, then we lose that.  In addition, America is not a Christian nation; though nearly 80% are Christian, there is still another 20% that are not.

Stop simply opposing every idea President Obama has and propose alternative solutions

The right has really been a thorn in our Presidents side instead of working with him to solve the problems in America.  The way to gain credibility and get some conservative ideas into law is to honestly work with the left to create good policy, and also proactively propose laws to solve some of our problems before the left takes up the problem.

Stop supporting causes that have nothing to do with Conservative ideology

The right should disassociate itself with such issues as abortion, and other things that are outside of the ideas of conservatism.  Abortion is an issue thats argument against it is primarily based in religion.  The same applies to marriage equality for gays; the argument against it can only be made from a religious standpoint.  Because of this, and because no party should be tied to any religion, just as our government should not be tied to any religion, the right as a whole and Republicans as a party should disassociate theirselves with abortion and start supporting equal rights for gays.  These two issues alone keep some of those in the center and on the left from ever supporting a Republican candidate.  It might cause a lot of those on the Christian right to be upset, but then they can choose the party that best conforms to what their idea of government should do on all other issues, or form a new 3rd party that is tightly tied to Christianity.

Stop being inconsistent

Right now many on the right are opposing government run health care on the idea that even though it may save a lot of lives, it isn't proper for the government or taxpayers to help others.  Yet, many of those same people are in support of the war in Iraq to give people in another country freedom and save their lives.  Why should we spend taxpayer dollars to police the world yet not spend taxpayer dollars to save those within our own borders?  Either we shouldn't spend money to help others, or we should and if we should then we should definitely want to help those within our own borders before those who are not within our borders.

Stop being hawks

The right has become a group of hawks and this is contrary to conservative ideas on foreign policy.  Conservative ideas on foreign policy are as spelled out by the Cato Institute:

Cato's foreign policy vision is guided by the idea of our national defense and security strategy being appropriate for a constitutional republic, not an empire. Cato's foreign policy scholars question the presumption that an interventionist foreign policy enhances the security of Americans in the post-Cold War world, and maintain instead that interventionism has consequences, including the formation of countervailing alliances, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and even terrorism. The use of U.S. military force should be limited to those occasions when the territorial integrity, national sovereignty, or liberty of the United States is at risk.

Conservatives need to re-embrace those ideas.  They are the ideas that our nations founders had in mind, and they are the ideas that are the most ethical and that might also allow some on the left to consider the rest of our ideas.

Have a well thought out income tax policy

There either should not be an income tax as Libertarians would like, or there should be an income tax that works to support Conservative values.  A tax that is progressive helps strengthen families at the lower incomes and therefore helps literacy rates, etc. which helps to preserve conservative values of strong families, an educated populace, etc.  Right now the government has taken on far too much responsibility and therefore spends too much and our national debt is growing because of it.  It is time to start cutting back on spending, but at the same time increasing revenue and the only realistic way to increase revenue is through a progressive income tax because those in the middle and lower class cannot support any higher tax burden.

Start supporting alternative energy and embrace that global warming is real and might be caused by us

The science is in, global warming is real and it is probably caused by our actions (and can we afford to gamble that it is not?).  Most of the oil that is easily available is in countries with citizens that do not like us.  Because of these two things, it is long past time to start looking into energy sources that do not emit CO2, and that do not require us to work with countries that are not friendly to us.

Stop catering to Israel

We give far too much money and support to Israel and it hurts our credibilty around the world and doesn't help to reduce the hatred towards us in the Muslim world.  It is time to treat Israel as we would any other country that is a friend and ally of ours.  We should work with them, and be friends with them, but we should point out when they are doing something that works against peace in the middle east and use our monetary aid as a tool to help control their actions rather than blindly supporting them at all times.

Start rethinking drug policy

The war on drugs does not work, and will never work so long as it is punitive rather than based in medicine.  It only makes organized crime stronger, and leads to a larger role of government and often leads to violations of our constitutional rights.  The punitive war on drugs was originally based on racism, and is now based in morality that is derived from religion.  For these reasons, it is time for the federal government to take a non punitive role and start considering policy that would put organized crime out of business, make drug use safer and less damaging to society, and help those who are ready to reform their lives through cessation of drug abuse.

 

 

ACORN's tactics in SEIU's takeover attempt in California

Internecine battles that go public always tell you more about how an organization operates. For example, a court battle after a Democratic primary in East Chicago, Indiana led to both sides testifying against each other in court about how they stole votes and 32 convictions on voter fraud. Whenever reporters and liberals claim that voter fraud doesn't happen, just refer them to the court testimony. By the way, these are absentee ballot fraud, the same sort of at-home coercion that occurs in "card-check" union organizing drives.

A similar battle is going on California. last year, the San Francisco-based SEIU-UHW (United Healthcare Workers West) had been under attack by the SEIU national organization and the Los Angeles-based local whose head Tyrone Freeman, an Andy Stern protege, was forced to step down after charges of embezzling local funds. Eventually, Sal Roselli, the head of the San Francisco organization was kicked out. He is now counter-attacking as National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW).

There have long-been allegations that ACORN and SEIU are closely related and that ACORN runs training programs for SEIU. In this case, SEIU-UHW is claiming that the NUHW is playing dirty. Check out this blog post from their site in which union members claim to have been lied to and coerced:

Examples of the tactics used by NUHW, which home care workers share on video and can be viewed here, include:

Asya Tilman, was told to sign "a petition to protect our rights," and it was not until "a few months ago that I realized that, through their lies, they try to move me to a different union." After Asya signed, she was then asked whether her daughter, also a home care worker, was at home, "and he said that I could sign under her name. And that is what I did."

Yuk Wan Leung was overwhelmed when two workers from the hotel union knocked at her door pressuring her to sign a petition. They told her the petition was for their voting freedom and it would not affect her union. Then they refused to leave until she signed.

Mei Fong Tsoi was approached while walking to work and was told to sign the petition to support the union, "I am a working member and I know my union. I even signed for my husband because he is also a homecare provider." 

While one local is claiming thuggery in San Francisco, at first under the direction of a criminal and now by a dissident organization, the national organization is claiming that coercion doesn't happen in union battles. Curious, eh?

 Note: The first version of this post misunderstand the relationships between the various California locals. I thank a union official for a correction. However, the core messaging problem still stands, and in some way is strengthened. An SEIU is claiming union thuggery, while the national denies it. After a several-year-long campaign of thuggery against a dissident. As in East Chicago, this is just how union infighting looks.

Prosecutorial Misconduct

The Judge

By Lance Thompson

The Obama administration announced that Attorney General Eric Holder will assign a special prosecutor to take the first step in bringing to trial CIA operatives who used extreme measures to interrogate terrorists. These extreme measures did not include torture, but merely threats and coercion which caused those interrogated to reveal details of planned terrorist attacks, and further permitted the United States to prevent them.

The Jury

 

 

Others have persuasively argued that prosecuting those who defend our country encourages our enemies, discourages our own people, and makes our allies wonder why they’re on our side at all. However, under the present administration, anyone who takes an oath to defend our nation should be ready to be prosecuted for doing his or her duty, and crucified for going above and beyond the call.

The Executioner

The Obama administration prefers that its Justice Department dismiss criminal cases against its friends. This happened last week in the dismissed case of Democrat New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson’s shady deals with campaign contributors, and last month with the dismissed case of Democrat Senator Chris Dodd’s questionable favors bestowed by Countrywide Mortgage. Instead, Attorney General Eric Holder’s wrath is directed at Americans serving on the front line against terror. Further, there seems to be no statute of limitations on such vital practices as interrogating, interdicting, hunting and killing our nation’s enemies. So here is a list of some additional targets for Obama DOJ investigations:

Navy Captain Stephen Decatur, who in February, 1804, sailed his schooner Enterprise under the hostile guns of Tripoli harbor and in a daring raid destroyed the captured American frigate Philadelphia, denying the valuable ship to the terrorist Tripolitanian enemy.

Colonel William Travis and the defenders ofthe Alamo, who in February, 1836, obliged Mexican General Santa Ana and his army to find out what Texans are made of.

Marine Captain Lloyd Williams of the 5th Marine Regiment who, prior to the valorous stand of soldiers and Marines at Belleau Wood in June, 1918, responded to a French officer’s suggestion to withdraw from the exposed position, “Retreat, hell–we just got here!”

Or the civilian passengers of United Flight 93, who on September 11th, 2001, met the greatest terrorist attack on our nation with courage, resolve, and selfless sacrifice so that others might live.

Admittedly, these Americans are all beyond the pitiful jurisdiction of Eric Holder. Their cases have, in fact, already come before the Highest Power. (No, that is not a reference to Rahm Emmanuel.) But it is certain that before the Ultimate Judge, these heroes were not only acquitted, but honored, feted, and invited to sit on the side of the angels, which is certainly where they belong.

And they’ll be saving a place for those CIA operatives now threatened by the earthly courts of lesser men.

Calif. Unions Get More Gov’t Jobs as Everyone Else Loses Theirs

How is it that California’s unemployment rate can be at 11.6% and still soaring yet California’s public employees unions are getting more jobs? How is it that those taxpayers paying the bills are losing jobs by the thousands yet those taking taxpayer dollars are being hired right and left?

On August 4th, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association wondered this same thing noting that “During the 12 months that ended in June, state government added 3,600 jobs in California, a 0.7 percent gain.”

"I don't know how this can happen," said David Kline, a spokesman for the California Taxpayers Association. "A lot of people are having trouble keeping their jobs, paying their bills, and feeding their families. Most taxpayers would be incredulous if they see these numbers."

So, the unions are finding the worst economic crash in decades much to their liking because, while everyone else suffers, the unions are finding thousands of new jobs offered them by a compliant government. High times, indeed.

Governor Schwarzenegger has tried to get a handle on this budget mess by attempting to furlough these union workers in hopes of saving some cash here and there. But Ahnold is soon to depart the scene, so what will happen next will have to await the results of the upcoming elections?

For sure this situation is ripe for a hard charging, tax fighting, growth oriented Republican to come forward and win the next race for California governor.

With that in mind, what is State Insurance Commissioner and Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner up to? Why, he’s signing onto letters that support the greedy efforts of the very unions that are bloating the budget in Sacramento, that’s what.

That’s right, State Controller and Democrat John Chiang drafted a letter back in February that demanded that the Governator stop all that union employee furloughing and saving of money business.

And who signed onto that union supporting letter but State Insurance Commish Poizner?! Poizner, along with all the other Democrats in state wide office were upset that the unions were being expected to feel any of the pain that those lowly taxpayers were feeling.

So much for Poizner being one of those hard charging, tax fighting, growth oriented Republicans that California so badly needs during this crisis.

After The Governator

Californians are soon to begin the process of deciding what Republican they’ll ask the voters to elect to the governor’s office. Apparently Insurance Commish Steve Poizner is claiming his right to that nomination. But what sort of “Republican” is he?

Why don’t we let him tell us?

"I am a frustrated moderate Republican, said Poizner.” “I don’t think either party in Sacramento does a very good job of representing people like me.” The Stanford Daily October 28, 2004

Poizner says, “I am not beholden to any party." That sure sounds like the making of the next Ahnold-Republican, doesn’t it?

Well, here’s the facts: Poizner made a $10,000 contribution to the Democratic National Committee on 10/02/00; $1,000 to John Forbes Kerry on 02/15/01; and a $10,000 donation he made to the '00 Gore/Lieberman Recount Committee. (Gary) Mendoza (former deputy mayor of Los Angeles and candidate for Insurance Commissioner), another self proclaimed moderate, says, “Less than one-one- hundredth of Republican primary voters supported the 2000 Gore-Lieberman recount, as did Steve Poizner, who is really a Democrat.” The Hotline, September 16, 2005, The Daily News of Los Angeles, June 26, 2005

So what is our lesson for the day? That Steve Poizner is not much of a Republican!

Hollywood's Control Freaks

As an under-25 recent college graduate now working in her second "real" job in Washington, DC, I continue to be amazed at the bone-headed moves being made by supposedly "smart" people running major industries and companies.  Having grown up in a world where I can hardly remember life prior to Google, it's hard for me to fathom why some people industries continue to fight against the zeitgeist.  Clearly nobody under 30 is in the board rooms.  Today's consumers have been trained to expect 21st century products -- yet some industries seem stuck in the 20th century top-down command-and-control model.  The movie industry is one such example.

Admission:  I own a lot of dvds.  Too many, to be honest, and would love to be able to legally upload them to my iPhone and computer.  After all, what if I lose one, or a roommate "borrows" one???  Right now, making a copy is not permitted by Big Hollywood Brother, though pirated software does allow one to illegally do so if they are willing to break the law.  A company called RealDVD has invented a technology that would allow me to legally make a personal copy of my movies, but the movie industry in Hollywood sued them.  Sadly, the courts have granted the studios a temporary injunction, which basically means no RealDVD player under my tree this Christmas.  Rather than embracing this product, Hollywood sued them.  How un-21st century.  You can't imagine the cool companies like Facebook or Apple doing something so unwise.  In an age when bands like Radiohead give away music for free (in order to make money in other ways and stay in the game), Hollywood is stuck in 1991. 

This is literally so bad that Hollywood has united the LA Times and conservatives.   

In an editorial out this week, titled, "Hollywood's Control Freaks," the LA Times' editors write

"RealNetworks' RealDVD software and Kaleidescape's home servers drew fire in part because they can make permanent copies of the rented or borrowed discs. But people who are so inclined can do that already with tools that are cheaper and less restrictive. More important to the studios, RealNetworks and Kaleidescape add value to a movie collection by making it easier to manage and watch. In so doing, they increase the incentive to own a movie rather than just rent it.One lesson from the technology industry is that there is a trade-off between controlling products and unleashing the innovation that spurs growth. Just look at how well the iPhone has fared since Apple invited independent developers to create applications for it. Hollywood should remember the principle underlying the case against China: Centralized control stifles a market. Rather than trying to stop potentially disruptive technologies and business models, Hollywood should find a way to harness them."

The editor-in-chief of the influential Wired magazine, Chris Anderson, is out with a new book titled "Free".  Essentially, he argues that everything from newspapers to dvds, traditional business structures are becoming obsolete because of the new wave of free stuff.   

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