Friday, December 28, 2007
Gerorge W. Bush totally wimps out
The Associated Press: Bush Rejects Defense Bill by Pocket Veto
Democratic congressional aide pointed out that a pocket veto cannot be overridden by Congress and allows Bush to distance himself from the rejection of a major Pentagon bill in a time of war.
In a message to Congress, the president said he was sending the bill and his outline of objections to the House clerk "to avoid unnecessary litigation about the non-enactment of the bill that results from my withholding approval, and to leave no doubt that the bill is being vetoed."
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Wednesday, December 26, 2007
This is why I like Obama
The Associated Press: Obama Embraces Tearful Veteran
Obama walked over and hugged him.
"You made the essential point, which is you earned your benefits."
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Matt and Rush say Hillary is too ugly to be President ...
Good thing they're not running for president or they might
seem hypocritical too.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
The Big Bang Theory of Politcal Reform in California
I am convinced that we will never fix the problems of our non-responsive California government though piecemeal changes. Term limits, which I voted for, have failed to produce the changes we wanted and have made it easier for money to dictate policy. All the measures we've passed to demand that money collected from certain taxes go only to certain projects have failed as well (and we face yet anther one of those in February.) Prop 13 has starved our treasury, but I can't afford to see it repealed. And all of these efforts have been an expression of our distrust in our government and were sold as the way to check their power. For instance, no State run health care plan can ever pass public muster until we trust the politicians not to treat us badly as the insurance companies do.
Well, the solution is pretty obvious, but nearly impossible to achieve. We must be able to trust our government (and the public must perceive them as trustworthy.) If we trusted them, we wouldn't need a super majority to increase taxes because we would be assured they would be spending it on something we needed. We could let our representatives have a career in their positions if the voters returned them to office and then benefit from their years of experience. And I am convinced that the only way to achieved that is to make a lot of changes all at once and have it sold by the people we trust most - ourselves!
Some of the things we need to push include public financing of campaigns to reduce the effect of money on our elections; making mail in voting and instant runoff voting standard to increase voter turn out and participation (and reduce the turnout decline associated with run off elections;) reforming our redistricting process with a goal to make the districts MORE competitive rather than less so people feel like their views are getting a fair airring even in districts where they are the minority; reforming lobbying rules so that nothing takes place outside of public scrutiny; and so on and so one. There are a lot of good ideas out there and each one is getting run by a separate special group and that is all well and good, but I don't think any of them will work alone and that's presuming they can each garner enough support to pass on their own.
But what might work is if all those ideas were presented to the public as one gargantuan effort to reform our system all at once. I think that appeals to the California sensibility and reduces all the various campaigns into one simple campaign - fix it all now. Of course no one is going to really believe it can all be fixed all at once, but it is an easier sell and and better plan to pass as much reform all at once with that caveat that we need to keep working at it (i.e. not letting our elected officials change it back to a system that responds to money rather than votes.)
And there is no better place to start this effort than in the California Blogosphere and among the Democratic clubs. First we need to identify all the areas of change that are needed, then find a solution out there that looks like it will work, then put them all together in one list and figure out how to make that a ballot initiative and find a unique way to get it the signatures to qualify it. And starting immediately after identify existing plans, start to push those plans, link to their sites, attend their events, talk about those plans...etc. Perhaps someone who knows about Wiki's can start one. Sadly this will happen without much support from the democratic party power structure, though there will be democratic politicians who will support it, and I doubt the republican party will support it either, though some republican politicians might (this is really a NON-partisan effort) and in fact the lack of institutional support would lend creditability to the effort.
If we work really hard, we might get this on a ballot sometime in 2010, just in time for the new census and the next scheduled redistricting. But I'm not sure exactly what need to be done next...'cause I'm just a guy who spends most of his time working to support his family.
Well, the solution is pretty obvious, but nearly impossible to achieve. We must be able to trust our government (and the public must perceive them as trustworthy.) If we trusted them, we wouldn't need a super majority to increase taxes because we would be assured they would be spending it on something we needed. We could let our representatives have a career in their positions if the voters returned them to office and then benefit from their years of experience. And I am convinced that the only way to achieved that is to make a lot of changes all at once and have it sold by the people we trust most - ourselves!
Some of the things we need to push include public financing of campaigns to reduce the effect of money on our elections; making mail in voting and instant runoff voting standard to increase voter turn out and participation (and reduce the turnout decline associated with run off elections;) reforming our redistricting process with a goal to make the districts MORE competitive rather than less so people feel like their views are getting a fair airring even in districts where they are the minority; reforming lobbying rules so that nothing takes place outside of public scrutiny; and so on and so one. There are a lot of good ideas out there and each one is getting run by a separate special group and that is all well and good, but I don't think any of them will work alone and that's presuming they can each garner enough support to pass on their own.
But what might work is if all those ideas were presented to the public as one gargantuan effort to reform our system all at once. I think that appeals to the California sensibility and reduces all the various campaigns into one simple campaign - fix it all now. Of course no one is going to really believe it can all be fixed all at once, but it is an easier sell and and better plan to pass as much reform all at once with that caveat that we need to keep working at it (i.e. not letting our elected officials change it back to a system that responds to money rather than votes.)
And there is no better place to start this effort than in the California Blogosphere and among the Democratic clubs. First we need to identify all the areas of change that are needed, then find a solution out there that looks like it will work, then put them all together in one list and figure out how to make that a ballot initiative and find a unique way to get it the signatures to qualify it. And starting immediately after identify existing plans, start to push those plans, link to their sites, attend their events, talk about those plans...etc. Perhaps someone who knows about Wiki's can start one. Sadly this will happen without much support from the democratic party power structure, though there will be democratic politicians who will support it, and I doubt the republican party will support it either, though some republican politicians might (this is really a NON-partisan effort) and in fact the lack of institutional support would lend creditability to the effort.
If we work really hard, we might get this on a ballot sometime in 2010, just in time for the new census and the next scheduled redistricting. But I'm not sure exactly what need to be done next...'cause I'm just a guy who spends most of his time working to support his family.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Who will Win in Iowa - Poll
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Help save an America town from Mercenaires!
Block Blackwater's Base : Powered by Courage Campaign's Issues Committee
Not only will Blackwater's proposed paramilitary base disrupt the lives of its residents -- it will also threaten the pristine natural habitat of the Round Potrero Valley, which includes part of Cleveland National Forest and is adjacent to the proposed Hauser Wilderness preserve. The regular detonation of firearms would be a risk both to the fire-prone landscape as well as to the wildlife that currently calls that area home, including the golden eagle and the California condor. It would also increase traffic substantially, a primary concern to residents of this small town.
The battle to protect Potrero from Blackwater continues. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors is now considering whether or not to approve Blackwater's plans.
The people of Potrero have done everything in their power to block Blackwater's base. Now, they need your support. Please sign the pledge opposing Blackwater's base today.
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By the time you read this, it will probably be too late.
Calitics:: Patriot Act-Esque: Rushing Through Health Care Reform Over Labor Fed Objections
So we have a bill submitted on a Friday which lawmakers are expected to vote coming Monday. It's 239 pages long and completely unclear, not just on affordability for the insurance itself, but on the floor for basic coverage and the ceiling for deductible costs. Health care experts have not fully made that determination. Add onto that the struggles of states to manage large-scale universal plans with their particular constraints, mainly on constitutionally mandated balanced budgets. We are in a $14 billion dollar budget hole and with a Governor itching to balance that on the backs of poor and elderly Californians with a 10% across-the-board budget cut. There simply aren't all that many areas you can cut that aren't protected by voter initiatives other than those in the health and human services sector. Does that factor in to this parallel plan at all? Not to mention the fact that so much of the funding option is predicated on federal funding at a time when the Democrats can't get SCHIP past the President's veto pen, which will result in tens of thousands of California children being denied coverage within a matter of weeks.
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Monday, December 10, 2007
First Ophah, now Mr. Smith?
(disclaimer..I am for Obama personally, the club has made no endorsement and polling of members tends to favor Edwards....at least so far....)
Will Smith For Obama:
Will Smith For Obama:
Wil Smith is ready to hit the campaign trail for Barack Obama. When asked if he would do what Oprah Winfrey is doing on behalf of the Democratic presidential hopeful, the "I Am Legend" star told The Post's Sandra Guzmán, "Yeah. I opened it up to him. I just gave him a call and asked him to tell me wherever you think you need me. I think he's what the future of America is going to be. Barack represents what I feel is the future of the optimum survival of America."
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Friday, December 07, 2007
California's Celebrity Spokes Person!
Because really, we don't need a Governor so much as someone to go around the world and sell California -- and since THAT person would be working for California Businesses more than for it's citizens, it's only reasonable that they pay for his trips.
Donors to secret nonprofit named - Los Angeles Times
Donors to secret nonprofit named - Los Angeles Times
The governor's aides and the foundation say the arrangement takes a financial burden off taxpayers while allowing Schwarzenegger to serve as an ambassador for the state. Watchdog groups contend it has the potential to allow moneyed donors to wield undue influence without public scrutiny.
The foundation is set up under the same rules as the United Way and Red Cross. State law does not require disclosure of its donors unless the contributions are made at a politician's behest.
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LA Times Reports Dirty Trick Intiative Fails
Electoral vote measure fails to make June ballot - Los Angeles Times
A proposed initiative that drew national attention for its potential to affect next year's presidential election will not appear on the June ballot, organizers said Thursday.
Republican backers of the measure, which could have tilted the presidential contest toward the GOP nominee by changing how California awards electoral votes, conceded that they were unable to raise sufficient funds.
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Sunday, December 02, 2007
Polls: Huckabee, Obama take Iowa lead
It's still a month out and in that month there is Christmas and New Years...so it's anybody's guess who wins in Iowa, but people are starting to pay attention and this promises to be one of the most interesting primary seasons in my life....
USATODAY.com
USATODAY.com
Despite the movement, the race for 2008's opening nominating contest remains very competitive about a month before the Jan. 3 caucuses. Roughly six in 10 likely Republican caucus participants and slightly more than half of Democrats say they could still be persuaded to support another candidate.
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