The Headington Cabal

Greenhut on California

2012-01-23T07:10:00.000-08:00

One does not have to be a "declinist" per se to see that California needs to make itself more business-friendly.

"The state's persistent double-digit unemployment rate is not just the result of a housing bust, but of a toxic business climate that regulates the heck out of everyone and everything. It's a result of a tax climate that sends people to other, less-attractive states, such as Texas. Those who point to Texas generally don't do so out of a particular love of that place, but because it is the nation's other megastate, and its officials take a more business-friendly approach, which has created a more dynamic and growing economy."

Source: Greenhut, Steven. "Denying California's plight won't ease it," OC Register. 1/21/12.

Quote of the Week - Governor Jerry Brown

2012-01-23T07:03:00.000-08:00

Here's an excerpt from Governor Brown's recent State of the State address outlining his 2012 priorities:

California has problems but rumors of its demise are greatly exaggerated. The year 2012 presents plenty of opportunity and, if we work together, we can:

Stimulate jobs
Build renewable energy
Reduce pollution and greenhouse gasses
Launch the nation's only high-speed rail system
Reach agreement on a plan to fix the Delta
Improve our schools
Reform our pensions
Make sure that prison realignment is working -- to protect public safety and reduce recidivism

Simon on Gingrich

2012-01-23T06:52:00.000-08:00

Simon calls it like he sees it. But we're all waiting to see what happens in Florida--the beginning of the Coronation or a protracted primary campaign.

"The Gingrich campaign is based on the notion of perpetual struggle against perpetual peril. ... Anger, umbrage and bitterness are so much a part of Gingrich’s public persona that he likes to attack the very concept of happiness. .. Americans don’t want sunshine, lollipops and rainbows. They want blood, toil, tears and sweat. They want a dependably gloomy man in the Oval Office. They want Newt!"

Source: Simon, Roger. "Newt Gingrich is angry," POLITICO. 1/21/12.

Walters on the Brown Legacy

2012-01-21T09:07:00.000-08:00

The SacBee veteran is far more critical of Governor Brown than suggested below but I appreciated his contrast of Brown legacies.

"The bullet train, renewable energy and other elements of the so-called "green economy" have become Brown's bid for posterity, just as the State Water Project and other public works are the legacy associated with his father."

Source: Walters, Dan. "Jerry Brown puts his contradictions on display," Sacramento Bee. 1/19/12.

Cartoon of the Day - (Not) Going Green

2012-01-13T09:59:00.000-08:00

Quote of the Day - Frank Bruni

2012-01-11T11:29:00.000-08:00

"Nothing melts a presidential aspirant’s frigid heart like the need to broaden his base." - Frank Bruni, "Please Hold the Cheese," New York Times. 1/9/12.

Dionne on the Bottom Line

2012-01-11T08:52:00.000-08:00

The WashPo veteran on the bottom line for Team Romney.

"The bottom line so far: Romney is someonewho can definitely be defeated, but it’s not at all clear than any of theopponents he actually has in these primaries can defeat him."

Source: Dionne, Jr., E.J. "In New Hampshire, a Huntsman surge? A Romney slide?" Washington Post. 1/10/12.

Asking Too Much?

2012-01-07T08:41:00.000-08:00

Is itreally too much to ask that our lawmakers obey the law and set an example? Call me oldfashioned but I always thought that holding office is a public trust--acompact one makes with voters to serve them and stand up for their interests. And part of that compact is having respect for the office by conducting yourself in a dignified manner, setting an example and keeping things on the level.

"Lawmakers whodrive drunk, take merchandise out of stores or bring a loaded gun into airportsshouldn't be treated lightly. If authorities want to deter normalcitizens from breaking laws, they should set an example with lawmakers who takeoaths to uphold them."

Source.Editorial. "Lawmakers who break our laws shouldn't get a break,"Sacramento Bee. 1/6/11.

Romney Goes All Pop Cultural On Us

2012-01-07T08:22:00.000-08:00

Leave it to the GOP's Ward Cleaver to drop a pop culture reference while talking about Obama--as though the same could not be said for his policy reversals and ideological pliés. But at least he's topical I guess.

"The gap between his promises and hisperformance is the largest I've seen since, well, the Kardashian wedding andthe promise of 'til death do us part." — Republican presidential candidateMitt Romney knocking Obama for his lack of commitment.

Source: McDevitt, Caitlin. "Politi-quotes: The week in one-liners," POLITICO. 1/6/11.

Schnur's Freudian Analysis of the GOP

2012-01-07T08:13:00.000-08:00

Somepolitical food for thought by the great Dan Schnur but be sure to read the entire piece as it talksabout the +/-'s of running positive/negative campaigns.

"Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney have nowestablished themselves as the id and the ego of the Republican Party. Romney representsthe ultra-organized, overly measured and methodical aspect of the Republicanestablishment, while Gingrich is hyper-instinctual and visceral, theuntrammeled raw impulses of the conservative movement’s emotional coreincarnated. (For those of you keeping track at home, that makes Rick Santorumthe party’s demanding and moralizing super-ego and Ron Paul, perhaps, itssuper-id.)"

Source: Schnur, Dan. "Positively Newt," New York Times. 1/6/11.

Gerson on Ideological Manhood

2012-01-03T05:54:00.000-08:00

I mightcome to different conclusions on many policy points and political positions butI do appreciate the sharpness of the former Bush speechwriter's mind and provocative turnof phrase. Here's his take on Ron Paul and his ideological countrymen proving their manhood.

Each of these [Ron Paul positions] is a disqualifying scandal. Takentogether, a kind of grandeur creeps in. The ambition of Paul and his supportersis breathtaking. They wish to erase 158 years of Republican Party history in asingle political season, substituting a platform that is isolationist,libertarian, conspiratorial and tinged with racism. It won’t happen. But someconservatives seem paradoxically drawn to the radicalism of Paul’s project.They prefer their poison pill covered in glass and washed down with batteryacid. It proves their ideological manhood. [emphasis added]

Gerson, Michael. "Ron Paul’s quest to undothe party of Lincoln," Washington Post. 1/1/11.

Daily News Editorializes on Redevelopment Agencies

2012-01-02T16:54:00.000-08:00

Sacramento observers are interested in knowing what kind of economic tools the state can provide to replace the loss of CRA's.

The ruling Thursday by the California Supreme Court on the legality of abolishing redevelopment agencies was an important step in fixing the state's budget problems and refocusing on the agencies' original purpose. ... The $1.7 billion in tax revenue that is diverted to cities to use in redevelopment zones can and should be freed up to fund other public assets in desperate need, such as schools. Eliminating redevelopment zones and seizing the money was one of the key points of Gov. Jerry Brown's budget-balancing plan earlier this year. Community redevelopment agencies (CRAs) sued the state to try to block the governor's seizure of their funds. ... The state's approximately 400 CRAs are expected to be quickly phased out (although existing projects will be allowed to continue). Then state and city officials can get to work on replacing the CRAs with new economic tools. These should aim to lift blighted areas and fund infrastructure projects that benefit everybody, as the redevelopment agencies were meant to do in the first place.

Source: Editorial. "Away with the CRAs," Los Angeles Daily News. 12/29/11.

Hart on Public Service & Politics

2012-01-02T16:30:00.000-08:00

Be sure to read the entire piece as it is more expansive on humor and human folly.

Great leaders, including great presidents, inevitably havetheir flaws. This is so because they are humans and thus subject, to greater orlesser degrees, to errors of judgment and performance. ... It goes withoutquestion that many of the best, the most capable, the most honorable people inour society shun elective and, in too many cases, even appointive office. Is it possible today to be a visible public servant and retain a sense ofhonor, dignity, and self-respect? All the leveling forces at work in oursociety would seem to answer no.

... For many of us, politics is not the artof making the rich richer in the hope they will dispense a farthing or two inthe beggars cup or the church collection plate. A thousand points of light donot begin to dent the misery abroad today in every American city and throughoutour countryside. Politics, to paraphrase one of Plato's dialogues, is the artof caring for souls.

Source: Hart, Gary. "God, Human Folly, and Laughter," Huffington Post. 12/31/11.

Cartoon of the Day - Cynicism

2012-01-02T16:16:00.001-08:00

Dionne on Obama

2012-01-02T15:40:00.000-08:00

I am bullish on President Obama's election prospects but the WashPo veteran raises a good point about expectations and morale.

Obama’s largest problem is not the daunting listof difficulties that have left the country understandably dispirited: thecontinuing sluggishness of the economy, the broken political culture ofWashington, the anxiety over America’s future power and prosperity.... Yet the threat that should most concern Obama may not be any of theparticulars that usually decide elections but the inevitable clash between theextravagant hopes of 2008 and the messy reality of 2012. ... Can voterswho supported someone as a transcendent figure reelect him as a normal, ifresilient, political leader? This is Obama’s challenge.

Source: Dionne, Jr., E.J. "Cana messiah win twice?" Washington Post. 1/1/11.

Williams on California's New Primary System & Redistricting.

2012-01-01T06:07:00.000-08:00

It will be interesting to see how it all plays out this year.

The new primary system and independent redistricting were intended to promote more centrist candidates to state legislative seats. The idea is that candidates would have to appeal to a wider spectrum of voters, rather than just zealots within a particular party, and thus take more moderate stances. Brown and his predecessor, former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, complained that lawmakers of both parties are far too partisan, making compromise nearly impossible.

Source: Williams, Juliet. "California politics enter new era," Associated Press. 12/31/11.

Cartoon of the Day - The Gift That Keeps On Giving

2011-12-27T07:19:00.000-08:00

Robinson on GOP Intramural Fighting

2011-12-27T06:45:00.000-08:00

The veteran WashPo columnist suggests that the "Tea Party Ideologues" have metastasized within the GOP to the point that "Establishment Pragmatists" are now on the defensive.

"More sensible Republicans have been so eager to take advantage of the Tea Party’s energy and emotion that they have essentially allowed the inmates to run the asylum. You will recall that it was the GOP, led by the Tea Party types, that threatened to send the Treasury into default last summer rather than approve a routine and necessary increase in the debt ceiling. ... Maybe they are so blinded by ideology that they no longer care about the impact their actions might have on struggling American families. Or maybe their only guiding principle is that anything Obama supports, they oppose."

Source: Robinson, Eugene. "The GOP’s slip is showing," Washington Post. 12/22/11.

'Tis the Season

2011-12-27T06:27:00.000-08:00

I love the holiday season from Thanksgiving through New Year's. We reconnect with our far-flung families and spend a little more time with each around the dining table. From holiday cards from friends and loved ones that crowd our mantels to Christmas trees that freshen our homes and Michael Buble to lift our spirits, 'tis the season to be jolly. The Missus and I were appreciative to celebrate our first Christmas as parents this year and I once again donned the Santa suit for my nieces and nephews. Even Bentley the Bulldog Reindeer--less known than the more popular Rudolph--got into the act again.

We hope you and yours are having a joyous holiday season and wish you the very best for a Happy New Year! Enjoy these gems on our playlist--or mixed tape for the Old School.

Originally posted at www.38EdHeads.com on 26 December 2011.

Norquist on Ron Paul

2011-12-27T06:08:00.000-08:00

Some interesting thoughts from one of Washington's most "random guys."

“RonPaul is the most consequential guy running for president. All the otherguys are basically saying the same things, and one gets to be the nominee. ButRon Paul has changed the nature of the modern Republican Party and brought intoit discussions not only of non-interventionist overseas policy but monetarypolicy. I hope to be there to watch [Paul] speak from the main stage inprime time” at the 2012 GOP convention. - ” Grover Norquist, anti-tax activist and Republican organizer

Source: Wallsten, Peter. "Ron Paul becoming serious contender in Republicanpresidential race," Washington Post. 12/20/11.

vanden Heuvel on Ballot Box Success

2011-12-26T09:48:00.000-08:00

Somepolitical food for thought.

Success at theballot box is not a victory in and of itself. True victory comes when vibrant,sustainable movements create an energy around ideas that the White House has tochase. Those movements can be built on hope, but they are sustained withengagement of the kind that can outlast any given battle, any given term andany given presidency. ... change, that reversal of culture, almost alwayscomes from outside Washington and from below, from mobilized people andmovements of determined idealism and grounded realism. It grows out of therecognition that we are living in a system hardwired to resist reform... As President Obama said, change is a “long-term project.” That meansthat 2012 must be about more than just his reelection. It needs to be aboutwhat comes next, not just who.

Source: vandenHeuvel, Katrina. "The change I believe in," Washington Post.12/20/11.

Herdt on the Top-Two Primary

2011-12-26T09:33:00.000-08:00

Coupled with redistricting, the top-two primary will undoubtedly shake things up in the California 2012 election cycle. Here's an excerpt from a recent Herdt piece:

"As the 2012 election year approaches, political candidates, activists and ordinary voters must get ready to cope with the consequences of the biggest change in the electoral process since the advent of party primaries ended the era of party bosses selecting candidates in smoke-filled rooms. Come Jan. 1, California enters the era of the top-two primary — a free-for-all, survival-of-the-fittest system in which any voter can cast a ballot for any candidate seeking partisan office. The top two finishers in each contest, regardless of party, will advance to the general election in November."

Source: Herdt, Timm. "New System, Old Fractures in Party Politics," Ventura County Star. 12/20/11.

2011-12-22T10:24:00.000-08:00

One of the wonderful benefits of working with stellar civic engagement organizations like The Pat Brown Institute, The Unruh Institute of Politics and Coro Southern California over the years is meeting some of the best minds our state has to offer. From Joe Mathews, Willie Brown and Dan Walters to a host of other bright lights, it has been like taking graduate level courses California history and politics--and its reform impulse.

Just recently, Coro hosted a CrossTalk on "Rebooting California" (see footage above) featuring three top panelists--including Patrick Atwater who is a recent alumnus of Coro's Fellowship in Public Affairs Program and author of A New California Dream. I particularly like the following passage as it spoke to something unique within the Golden State DNA. As we move forward in 2012 to get California "Heading in the Right Direction," let us ensure that part of the solution is unleashing the entrepreneurial spirit and fostering a "culture of ambition" with smart and forward-thinking policies in Sacramento.

Assembly Candidate Edward Headington and "A New
California Dream" author Patrick Atwater

"California became equated with technological innovation, commercial productivity, and societal power. ... through a culture of ambition that connected civic, business, and scientific leaders in a sweeping vision of what the future held for California. Stretching to the South and its Hispanic heritage, looking to the West on its Pacific future, constantly reinvigorated from the East with its American past, California's material dreams and successes imbued the place with pure possibility." [emphasis added]

Source: Atwater, Patrick. (2011) "A New California Dream: Reconciling the Paradoxes of America's Golden State," 1st Ed., p. 44.

Originally posted at www.38EdHeads.com on 20 December 2012.

Dionne on Newt Gingrich

2011-12-20T11:58:00.000-08:00

The former House Speakerlooks to be losing a little steam going into the Iowa Caucuses but Dionne hassome thoughts on why he's got the Big Mo for now.

Gingrich’srise is the revenge of a Republican base that takes seriously the intensehostility to President Obama, the incendiary accusations against liberals andthe Manichaean division of the world between an “us” and a “them” that hisparty has been peddling in the interest of electoral success. Theright-wing faithful knows Gingrich pioneered this style of politics, and theylaugh at efforts to cast the former House speaker as something other than a“true conservative.” ... He is who he is and always has been. The baseknows this and loves him for it. But for Republican leaders, Gingrich has becomeinconvenient. He’s the loudmouthed uninvited guest who is trying to rejoin thecountry club. The effort to blackball Newt Gingrich will be the next drama inthis fascinating train wreck of a campaign.

Source:Dionne, Jr., E.J. "NewtGingrich and the revenge of the base," Washington Post. 12/18/11.

Ostler on Teddy Roosevelt

2011-12-20T11:43:00.000-08:00

It ishard to look across the political spectrum and wonder where are the TeddyRoosevelts of our era. The Jeffes madea similar case in Politico earlier this year and said things will notchange for the better until we do--and Ostler adds an exclamation point to the argument.

Roosevelt’spopularity across the political spectrum today might be explained, not by hispolicies, but by his passionate political style. TR held strongly felt beliefs,and he wasn’t afraid to express them. And he had a pungent way with words.... Teddy Roosevelt’s pugnacious political and moral certitude is largelyunknown in American politics today. His energetic commitment to his beliefs,whatever the cost, contrasts sharply with the carefully calibrated positions ofmost modern contenders for office. Whether fairly or not, today’s politiciansare widely perceived to be flip-floppers who shift their views according to thelatest opinion polls. In such a political climate, it’s no wonder that Teddynostalgia is on the rise.

Source: Ostler, Rosemaire. "Why Today’s Politicians Love TeddyRoosevelt," LA Progressive. 12/17/11.

Governor Brown on (Not) Working with Republicans

2011-12-20T11:31:00.000-08:00

Wildermuth brings to lightGovernor Brown's plan to ignore Republican legislators in the next session. He bent over backwards this year and still they would not work onsensible solutions or broker a compromise.

But the governor bristled at GOP suggestions that California’sbudget problems are simply the result of the state just spending too muchmoney.

“I think any honestobserver will say that the California budget is more constrained than it hasbeen historically. And if any of these Republicans has some ideas otherthan just poor people they’d like to take away child care from, I’ll be glad tolisten.”

Source: Wildermuth,John. "Brown Plans to IgnoreRepublican Legislators," Fox & Hounds Daily. 12/16/11.

Cartoon of the Day - Student Excuses

2011-12-20T11:08:00.001-08:00

The Donald on Canceling the "Great Debate"

2011-12-15T08:53:00.000-08:00

Strong delivery by the reality TV star and Birther King--with the requisite dose of self-aggrandizement. But fashionistas might once again take points away for a poor knot on his tie. Why spend all that money on a nice suit and tie if you cannot work the dimple game? C'mon Trump.

Cartoon of the Day - Fowl Humor

2011-12-14T10:07:00.001-08:00

Lip Reading Rick Perry

2011-12-14T10:01:00.000-08:00

The Snarkiness is already in full swing for this campaign cycle.

Bachmann on Core Convictions

2011-12-14T09:56:00.000-08:00

Leave it to the folks at Funny or Die for this funny send-up of GOP presidential contender Michele Bachmann. The Marcus character is very Paul Lynde-esque.

Noonan on Gingrich

2011-12-13T20:49:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite speechwriters offers her semi-tart analysis of the former Speaker and surging presidential contender.

Those who know him fear—or hope—that he will be true to form in one respect: He will continue to lose to his No. 1 longtime foe, Newt Gingrich. He is a human hand grenade who walks around with his hand on the pin, saying, "Watch this!" What they fear is that he will show just enough discipline over the next few months, just enough focus, to win the nomination. And then, in the fall of 2012, once party leaders have come around and the GOP is fully behind him, he will begin baying at the moon. ... There are many good things to say about Newt Gingrich. He is compelling and unique, and, as Margaret Thatcher once said, he has "tons of guts." But this is a walk on the wild side.

Source: Noonan, Peggy. "Gingrich Is Inspiring—and Disturbing," Wall Street Journal. 12/10.11.

Paul on Paul

2011-12-13T20:37:00.000-08:00

Leave it to GOP presidentialcandidate--and polling 2nd in Iowa--to offer up a delectable quote.

"I like tothink of myself as the flavor of the decade." — White House hopeful Ron Paul's description of himself.

Source: McDevitt,Caitlin. "The week in one-liners: Paul, Palin, Stewart," POLITICO.12/9/11.

DNC Ad on Romney

2011-12-13T20:21:00.000-08:00

While many consider the source in the release of ads during election cycles, this one seems to be Romney vs. Romney--with a little Gipper spliced in for good measure. ;)

Romney the Liberal-Progressive-Conservative Republican?

2011-12-13T12:56:00.000-08:00

He purported to run to the left of the late Ted Kennedy during his '94 bid for Congress and claimed "progressive views" during his gubernatorial days. Fast forward a few years and now he's a "Conservative." While he may not be an ideologue, few can blame the Republican electorate for saying he's unprincipled at worst or inconsistent at best.

Gingrich: "I Will Be the Nominee"

2011-12-06T12:36:00.000-08:00

If theGOP presidential nomination process is won on sheer bravado alone, thenGingrich has it in the bag--much to the delight of Team Obama.

“I’m going to be the nominee. It’s veryhard not to look at the recent polls and think that the odds are very high I’mgoing to be the nominee.” - Former House Speaker & GOP PresidentialAspirant Newt Gingrich

Source: ABCNews

Newton Leroy Gingrich's New Iowa Ad

2011-12-06T12:22:00.000-08:00

The former Speaker of the House might have more baggage than most major airlines but he has the "Big Mo" going right now. The question remains of whether he will have the resources for a protracted campaign (like Romney does) or is he just the latest in the Wack-A-Mole Republican Presidential Reality Show? I guess we'll have to wait until Mr. Reality Star himself, Donald Trump, hosts the next GOP debate. In the meantime, here is Gingrich's new Iowa ad.

Cartoon of the Day - Being Political

2011-12-06T12:04:00.000-08:00

Quote of the Week - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

2011-12-06T10:58:00.000-08:00

Interesting comment from the Mayor of Los Angeles.

"I'm the mayor. I'm not an emperor or a judge," Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, when asked about lowering bail for Occupy L.A. protesters.

Source: Orlov, Rick. "Police union seeks grass-roots support," Daily News. 12/5/11.

Hart on the Body Politic

2011-11-27T17:26:00.000-08:00

Thought leader Gary Hart isspeaking more broadly in the context of the passing of journalist Tom Wicker--whose book onNixon I read during my USC days: "One of Us: RichardNixon and the American Dream"--but I appreciate his point aboutthe coarsening of our politics.

"There are thoseof us of a certain age and generation, probably not too many now, who stillwonder whether the assassination of John Kennedy marked a turning point notonly in American politics but in America itself. We will never know. But itdoes seem, looking back over the half century, that we, and our politics, havebecome narrower, angrier, less giving, less civic minded, certainly lessoptimistic."

Source: Hart,Gary. "TomWicker and the Age of Conscience," Huffington Post. 11/26/11.

Skelton on the Think Long Committee

2011-11-26T19:32:00.000-08:00

Some thoughts on the Think Longproposal by one of Sacramento's veteran columnists.

"Overall, thecommittee deserves credit for heading in the right direction: Trying tooverhaul and update California's tax system to make it less volatile — lessvulnerable to the booms and busts of the national economy — and more responsiveto 21st century realities. Californians have tied the Legislature sotightly in knots — imposing a two-thirds vote requirement for any tax increase— that it's practically impossible for the lawmakers to modernize the state'stax code. Even if the net result was a wash — with tax hikes matching tax cuts— it would require a two-thirds vote." [emphasis added]

Source: Skelton,George. "Touting a tax on services," Los Angeles Times. 11/24/11.

Renewable Energy Update

2011-11-26T19:23:00.000-08:00

Some good news coming out of therenewable energy sector.

"The zeal toreplace fossil fuels, which take millions of years to form from dead organicmatter, belies the failed efforts at the UN talks to broker a deal that wouldlimit carbon dioxide emissions from coal and oil blamed for global warming.Without a deal, existing pollution caps under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol expire nextyear. The talks on the future of Kyoto were deadlocked after existingmembers Russia, Canada and Japan said they won't make new emissions targetsafter 2012 because the accord doesn't set limits for the three biggestpolluters: the U.S., which never ratified it, and developing nations China and India."

Source: Bloomberg/LATimes. 11/26/11.

Cartoon of the Day - Medical Opinions

2011-11-26T18:55:00.001-08:00

Video of the Weekend - Cold Turkey

2011-11-26T18:48:00.000-08:00

The famous Beatle is said to be referring to something else in the song but the title is surely what many Americans are dining on over the weekend (and perhaps some Tofurky too).

Dovere on Gingrich's Intellectualism

2011-11-25T06:07:00.000-08:00

WashPo's KathleenParker might have said it best the other day when she observed that the formerSpeaker is a "man of ideas--mostly bad ones." Here's anotherobservation:

"Gingrichis more idea impresario than idea generator, a bright and savvy politician whouses a facade of deep intellectualism effectively — but not authentically.... Convinced of the ingenuity of his ideas, he’ll overlook details,contradictory evidence and practical reality. ... In a year in whichRepublican presidential candidates have been dismissing the need for deeppolicy knowledge and appealing to the anti-intellectual strain of their partybase, Gingrich stands out. If elected, he’d be only the second president inhistory with a Ph.D. He wrote a dissertation on the Belgian education system inthe colonial Congo ... Gingrich may be trying to make the 2012 electionabout who can think deepest, but those who do it for a living suggest that’sthe wrong way to choose a president."

Source: Dovere,Edward-Isaac. "Is Newt Gingrich as smart ashe thinks?" POLITICO. 11/23/11.

Quote of the Week - Joe Mathews

2011-11-23T13:36:00.000-08:00

Leave itto uber reform thinker, Joe Mathews, to come up with a colorful quote onthe "Citizens Council for GovernmentAccountability" idea embedded in the Think Long Committee on Californiaproposal.

"This is a perfect kind ofreform if you’re the kind of Californian who has given up on the legislativeprocess, and wants a sort of, a kind of council of elders. I mean, this is essentially a Jedi Council for California that they've proposed."

Source: Myers, John. "SuperCommittee for California's Initiative Process," KQED News - Capitol Notes.11/22/11.

Parker on What It Takes & Motivates

2011-11-22T21:05:00.000-08:00

Nothinglike an overt RichardBen Cramer title mention whilereferencing other political punditry but his presidential tome did capture the Democratic and Republican whack-a-mole contests of '88. ;)

"Despite all thisstuff swirling around in our heads, we’ve learned through the weeks ofprime-time performances that each candidate, though somehow not quite right forthe presidency, is quintessentially right for something else, perhapspreviously unforeseen. Conventional wisdom has always held that not allcandidates are seriously running for president when they run for president. Toevery loser goes a trophy of some sort — book sales, speaking engagements,secondary government roles. Ka-ching, ka-ching, ka-ching, in other words, isn’tjust a Cain stab at China’s capital city."

Source: Parker,Kathleen. "What ever happened tothe GOP’s 2012 presidential wannabes?" Washington Post. 11/22/11.

Robinson on Republican Conformity

2011-11-22T20:46:00.000-08:00

Something to think about moving forward.

"It’suseful to remember that not all Republicans are so stubborn. Many realize that a balanced approach of spendingcuts and tax increases will be needed to address the debt problem — and thatthese adjustments shouldn’t be made too abruptly, given the fragility of theeconomic recovery. But anyone who speaks these truths out loud is branded aheretic in Republican circles, where tax cuts are not a matter of policy but offaith. ... Maybe Republicans will acknowledge that American greatnessdoesn’t come free. That’s the breakthrough we need."

Source:Robinson, Eugene. "Republicanobstinacy doomed the supercommittee," Washington Post. 11/22/11.

Walters on the California Reform Movement

2011-11-22T20:26:00.000-08:00

One might also apply this to reform--albeit an overused term--to the healthcare industry. Some believe in incrementalism and others want to start over--all the while knowing that the status quo is not sustainable.

"Reformers divide roughly into two camps: Those who believe that tweaking political processes incrementally can make government work again, and those who contend there's a more fundamental disconnect that can be cured only by creating a new structure attuned to 21st-century reality."

Source: Walters, Dan. "California government reformers occupy two camps," Sacramento Bee. 11/22/11.

Mike Tyson as Herman Cain

2011-11-22T19:15:00.000-08:00

Iron Mike seems to have had quite a second act since that cameo in The Hangover.

Greenhut on the California Republican Party & Immigration

2011-11-21T11:10:00.000-08:00

Political food for center-right thought but the CRP just had a big platform fight a few weeks ago and its membership remain committed to the current policy/brand--consequences be damned.

"A calmer immigration approach would help make the Republican brand more palatable to non-Republicans. Then the GOP needs to focus on what some people call the "politics of aspiration." The party needs to develop an agenda that revolves around opportunity, around policies that help everyone – especially those in the working and middle classes – get ahead in life. ... The GOP is still fighting losing social battles rather than recasting itself in a more libertarian direction that could appeal to broader audiences by rallying around the issues of freedom and opportunity. This sort of change won't happen overnight, but it's time to recognize the problem."

Source: Greenhut, Steven. "GOP needs to rethink immigration," Orange County Register. 11/18/11.

Walters on Brown Can-Do-ism

2011-11-21T10:30:00.000-08:00

The must-read Sac Beencolumnist offers his take on the new Pat Brown documentary, "California State of Mind: The Legacy of Pat Brown," and how the beloved former governor (and hissuccessor) would fare in today's political climate. I look forward to seeing the film.

"Were Pat Brown governor today, he'dface the same hurdles. The changes within his own party merely symbolize thevast sociopolitical evolution in California that makeseffective governance so difficult, and perhaps impossible. Pat Brown's California, oreven Ronald Reagan's,was a much less complex, much more cohesive society. One suspects neither wouldbe any more successful than their often hapless successors in navigating theconflicting demands of voters and myriad cultural and economic factions in agovernmental structure that rewards obstructionism."

Source: Walters, Dan. "New film views Pat Brown legacy through a nostalgiclens," Sacramento Bee. 11/21/11.

Will on the "Classic Rental Politician"

2011-11-21T10:18:00.000-08:00

So I guess George F. Will is not a fan of presidential aspirant Newt Gingrich.

Cartoon of the Day - Self-Discovery

2011-11-21T09:54:00.001-08:00

Fight On 'SC

2011-11-21T09:45:00.000-08:00

Our Trojans were a little wobbly in the 4th quarter but held on to pull off a massive upset at Eugene against the Oregon Ducks. You're on notice Bruins. I liked T.J.'s quote about my alma mater.

"This is a team that is really resilient," safety T.J. McDonald said. "We'll go into any stadium, anywhere,and play anybody. People sometimes forget: This is SC. And that's how we feelabout ."

Source: Klein, Gary. "USC hangs on for a 38-35 victory over No. 4 Oregon," Los Angeles Times. 11/19/11.

Hendo on Shogun

2011-11-21T09:38:00.000-08:00

Dan "Hendo" Henderson and Mauricio "Shogun" Hua put on an epic battle at UFC 139 and is the favorite for fight-of-the-year honors. I liked the California native's quote about his opponent.

“I tried to finish him a couple of times. I think that tired me out a little bit. He tried to ‘Rocky Balboa’ me and wear me out with his head. I thought it was one or two shots away from being finished. He tucked his head in pretty nice. I tried to push him away and get some elbows [in]. I couldn’t get any distance.” - Hendo

Source: Whitman, Mike. "Henderson Wants Next Crack at UFC Light Heavyweight Strap," Sherdog. 11/20/11.

Parker on the Palinization of the GOP

2011-11-19T10:36:00.000-08:00

Some analysis from one of our political observers in the 4th Estate. It will be interesting to see how the former Speaker of the House does--his poll numbers are on the rise and he brings more intellectual heft to the conversation.

"It takes courageto swim against the tide of know-nothingness that has become de rigueur amongthe anti-elite, anti-intellectual Republican base. Call it the Palinization ofthe GOP, in which the least informed earns the loudest applause. Thelatest to this spectacle is Herman Cain, who has figured out how to turn hisliabilities into assets. ... But Cain is banking on the hope that GOPcontempt for smarty-pants, gotcha journalists will outweigh concerns that hemay be out of his league. He may beright. Despite his difficulties, Cain is still polling in the top tier, justbehind Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich."

Source: Parker, Kathleen. "The Palinization of the GOP," Washington Post.11/18/11.

Hart on Presidential Intelligence

2011-11-19T10:00:00.000-08:00

The former presidential contender (and "Atari Democrat") has some thoughts on expectations in our national leadership.

"The Constitution imposes no I.Q. test. But it was written at a time when many Founders read and sometimes even spoke classical Greek and Latin, were products of the Enlightenment, and knew history and, in the case of Jefferson and others, science and a whole range of things. There was an unwritten and unspoken assumption of intelligence. ... A leader must be able to see farther ahead than most others, must generate creative new ideas and policies for new challenges and times, and must be able to convince the rest of us to try those ideas. A leader must have an inquisitive and inquiring mind. National leaders are rarely those who force a complex world into a simple orthodox box and refuse to look outside it."

Source: Hart, Gary. "Should a President Be Intelligent?" Huffington Post. 11/19/11.

McManus on the "New Newt"

2011-11-18T11:37:00.000-08:00

Political food for thought.

"Can New Newt keep Old Newt at bay for long?It's one thing to focus on fiscal issues instead of cultural warfare; that'sjust a matter of emphasis. The greater challenge for Gingrich is maintaininghis changed temperament after years of delighting in unconventional ideas andunrestrained polemic. ... Gingrich-watchers can only gaze in fascination, like spectators at a NASCAR race with an erratic driver who tends to run intowalls. 'If history is any guide, he'llblow himself up,' a former aide to President George W.Bush told me."

McManus, Doyle. Op-Ed. "McManus: Will 'New Newt' prevail?," Los Angeles Times. 11/17/11.

Tucker Carlson on Jack Abramoff

2011-11-18T11:22:00.000-08:00

I guess disgraced former lobbyists who serve time in prison for their crimes don't lose all of their friends and apologists.

"There is a decency that emanates from him, despite allof the accounts." - Daily Caller founder Tucker Carlson complimenting former lobbyist JackAbramoff.

Source: McDevitt, Caitlin. "The week in one-liners: Cain, Palin, Frank," POLITICO. 11/18/11.

Cartoon of the Day - Holidays

2011-11-18T11:16:00.001-08:00

Gerson on Conservative Orthodoxy

2011-11-17T20:27:00.000-08:00

The former Bush speechwriter has a point.

"Movement conservatives have created a box of orthodoxy sosmall that even the most conservative candidates must engage in undignifiedcontortions just to fit. ... But ideological conformity easily becomescultural isolation — the development of assumptions, language and viewsdisconnected from the broad middle of American life. Many politicalactivists have adopted a form of fundamentalism: the belief that a return topower can be achieved only by a return to purity."

Source: Gerson, Michael. Op-Ed. "How Republican conformity is ruining politics," Washington Post. 11/17/11.

Cain on Leadership

2011-11-17T20:11:00.000-08:00

Is it too much to ask of our elected leaders to also be readers--especially when they have never held public office before? It's like having to choose between charisma and substance--why not a little of both? The comment below comes on the heels of Cain's challenges in discussing Libya and the hitherto unheard of "Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan."

“We have plenty of experts. We need a leader, not a reader.” - GOP presidential aspirant Herman Cain

Source: Dennis, Brady. "Cain’s no-show at meeting causes a stir in N.H." Washington Post. 11/17/11

SNL Republican POTUS Debate

2011-11-13T15:19:00.000-08:00

Saturday Night Live just seems to be better during election cycles.

Cartoon of the Day - Social Media APB

2011-11-13T13:40:00.000-08:00

Quote of the Week - Rep. Joe Walsh

2011-11-13T12:45:00.000-08:00

If you've seen his meltdown video with a constituent then you know that caffeine is the last thing he needs right now.

“I need more coffee." — Congressman Joe Walsh requesting a refill after screaming at a few constituents.

Source: McDevitt, Caitlin. "The week in one-liners: Cain, Perry, Allred," POLITICO. 11/11/11.

Joe Walsh Goes Off on Constituents

2011-11-13T12:38:00.000-08:00

No one likes a bully, especially elected ones that berate their constituents at public meetings. I agree with the woman in the video that he probably needs less caffeine in his life. Below is also some footage from a recent appearance on Hardball ("Hey Chris ...").

R.I.P. Smokin' Joe

2011-11-08T15:13:00.000-08:00

Smokin' Joe Frazier was one of the giants in the Golden Age of Heavyweight boxing and bested some of the greats like Muhammad Ali. Whether you appreciate the sweet science or not, who hasn't done their own impression of Howard Cozell's "Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!" commentary in his fight with George Foreman? Enjoy this highlight footage.

Cartoon of the Day - Jail Time

2011-11-08T15:06:00.001-08:00

Cartoon of the Day - Perspective

2011-11-06T13:23:00.001-08:00

Rice on Qadhafi

2011-11-06T13:12:00.000-08:00

She also talked about the ick factor in a recent Daily Show appearance.

"Quiteextraordinary, weird and a bit creepy.” — Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telling CNN’s Piers Morgan about Muammar Qadhafi’scrush on her.

Source: McDevitt, Caitlin. "The week in one-liners: Romney, Rice, Boehner," POLITICO. 11/4/11.

Calbuzz Provoke Political Food for Thought on California's Financial Woes

2011-11-03T07:04:00.000-07:00

While each line item has its own constituency so to speak, the guys at Calbuzz do provoke some interesting political food for thought.

Calbuzz would argue that most, if not all, ofCalifornia’s financial woes, not to say its social injustices, would beeliminated by addressing the inequality of Proposition 13’s application tocommercial and industrial property; the lack of an oil-severance tax; a shiftof sales taxes toward services; a return to pre-Schwarzenegger-level vehiclelicense fees, an increased income tax on millionaires and an end to the singlesales factor break.

Source: Roberts, Jerry and Trounstine, Phil. "Why Labor Is Nuts to Fight Brown on Pensions," Calbuzz. 10/31/11.

Cartoon of the Day - Smart Children

2011-11-03T06:46:00.000-07:00

Garvey to Dodger Fans: "The sun is out."

2011-11-03T06:36:00.000-07:00

Some good news from one of my favorite baseball players: Steve Garvey. I even have the baseball card with him in the Padres uniform.

"It's official. The game is on. I think it's a day of transition, from one ownership to another, whomever that will be, and hopefully it's us. It's a dark period in Dodger history but now the clouds are blowing away. The sun is out. Potential and hope is back." - Steve Garvey

Source: Painter, Jill. "Who are the potential owners of the Dodgers?," Daily News. 11/3/11.

O'Donnell Assess Obama's Re-election Chances

2011-10-29T10:07:00.000-07:00

Former "I'm Not A Witch" conviction candidate Christine O'Donnell, known for her political acumen, offers her assessment of President Obama's re-election chances. No word from the American Association of Lawn Gnomes to speak to her her back-handed compliment.

“Right now a lawn gnome can beat Obama.” — Former Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell knocking the president’s re-election odds.

Source: McDevitt, Caitlin. "The week in one-liners: Huntsman, Leno, Perry," POLITICO. 10/28/11.

Will on Romney: "The Republican 'Dukasis'"

2011-10-28T09:37:00.000-07:00

Interesting comment by the conservative columnist on competence versus ideology.

Republicans may have found their Michael Dukakis, a technocratic Massachusetts governor who takes his bearings from “data” (although there is precious little to support Romney’s idea that in-state college tuition for children of illegal immigrants is a powerful magnet for such immigrants) and who believes elections should be about (in Dukakis’s words) “competence,” not “ideology.”

Source: Will, George F. "Mitt Romney, the pretzel candidate," Washington Post. 10/28/11.

Roy Nelson Channels His Inner Grizzly Adams

2011-10-28T09:26:00.000-07:00

Big Country is sporting massive facial hair in advance of his must-win UFC 137 fight against Cro Crop this weekend. While there is much love and admiration for the former Pride champion, this MMA fan predicts a TKO by Nelson in the 2nd round.

Cartoon of the Day - Punditry

2011-10-28T09:22:00.000-07:00

Happy Diwali America

2011-10-26T12:02:00.000-07:00

Diwali is a major Indian holiday for American Hindus, and a significant festival in Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism the world over. Many legends are associated with Diwali and it is celebrated across the globe as the "Festival of Lights," where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over the evil within every human being. It entered mainstream American pop culture in 2006 with the "Diwali" episode on NBC's The Office. Although first celebrated in 2003 at the White House, President Obama is the first U.S. president to attend an event.