Archives

2.12.2008

Johan Klehs

 

Former East Bay Assemblyman Johan Klehs was astonished to learn in a recent edition of the San Francisco Chronicle that he was a candidate for Don Perata’s Oakland-centered Senate seat.

“I have myself on permanent Google alert for Germany and the United States. I was driving to Sacramento in the morning and there it was,” Klehs said in recent interview at the Esquire Grill near the Capitol.    Read more »

More

2.11.2008
Two Insightful Analyses of the Newspaper Industry

Two Insightful Analyses of the Newspaper Industry

“The economic fundamentals of the newspaper industry are no longer present.”                       

— Warren Buffet, May 2007 

***** 

 “I tell you I have been in the editorial business going on 14 years and it is the first time I ever heard of a man’s having to know anything in order to edit a newspaper.     Read more »

More

2.07.2008
Reprieve — Albeit a Pricey One

Reprieve — Albeit a Pricey One

When we left our intrepid family of three they faced the fearsome task of procuring health insurance as the clock ticked rapidly and inexorably toward a March deadline. 

Bugles blaring, Colts firing, the cavalry has just come over the ridge. 

Apparently, the nine months of COBRA health coverage the former employer of one of the family members was willing to pay to get that hard-working wretch to split does not expire until May 1.     Read more »

More

2.07.2008

Ten More To Trash & A Confession

At The End of The Day – An initially overlooked oral excretion called out by a number of readers.

Going Forward – Not unlike disgruntled, this phrase would be more palatable if its opposite were used as routinely. How you doing? “Gruntled, thanks.” Would that more legislative agendas were going backward rather than forward.    Read more »

More

2.07.2008
Senate Picks New Pro Tem As Jockeying Intensifies for Assembly Speaker and Senate GOP Leader

Senate Picks New Pro Tem As Jockeying Intensifies for Assembly Speaker and Senate GOP Leader

Senate Democrats have selected Darrell Steinberg, a Sacramento Democrat, as the next leader of the California State Senate. 

In a closed-door caucus Thursday morning, the liberal, pro-labor lawmaker was picked by the upper house’s 25 Democrats to succeed Senate President Pro Tempore Don Perata, D-Oakland. 

Perata’s state political career ends this year because of the defeat of the term limits initiative, Proposition 93, on Tuesday’s ballot.     Read more »

More

2.07.2008
Steinberg New Senate Leader

Steinberg New Senate Leader

Senate Democrats have selected Darrell Steinberg, a Sacramento Democrat, as the next leader of the California State Senate. 

In a closed-door caucus Thursday morning, the liberal, pro-labor lawmaker was picked by the upper house’s 25 Democrats to succeed Senate President Pro Tempore Don Perata, D-Oakland. 

Perata’s state political career ends this year because of the defeat of the term limits initiative, Proposition 93, on Tuesday’s ballot.     Read more »

More

2.05.2008
This is Supposed to Be a Nasty Campaign Year? Get Real.

This is Supposed to Be a Nasty Campaign Year? Get Real.

It’s only February and already the TV phonies, self-anointed pundits and professional lip-flappers are declaring 2008 the nastiest ever campaign since the last nastiest ever campaign. 

Please. 

The ballot proposition campaigns are sickeningly tame. The Indians who get 17,000 new slot machines from approving Props 94 through 97 rail that it’s the evil horse racing interests and an owner of two Vegas casinos behind the opposition.    Read more »

More

2.04.2008
Health Cuts Hearing a Harbinger for Nasty Budget Battle

Health Cuts Hearing a Harbinger for Nasty Budget Battle

 In a forestate of the ugly battle over California’s cash-strapped budget, a packed sente hearing room was told by more than 100 witnesses Monday afternoon that the Schwarzengger adminsitration’s proposed cuts in medical services to the poor would be devastating.

While no vote on the reductions was taken by the Senate Budget Committee, the back-and-forth between witnesses, lawmakers and the administration was a good indicator of how sides will align as the Legislature tries to meet a mandatory February 23 deadline set by the GOP governor to cut $872 million from the current year budget, nearly half from public school spending.    Read more »

More

2.04.2008
A Reagan Classic, a Bill Campbell Favorite and a Lockyerism Too Often Forgotten by Testifiers

A Reagan Classic, a Bill Campbell Favorite and a Lockyerism Too Often Forgotten by Testifiers

“Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize it bears a very close resemblance to the first.”                                   

— Ronald Reagan

  

“Politicians do two things: point with pride or view with alarm.”

   —  former state Sen. William Campbell 

 

“The plural of anecdote is not evidence.” 

                                                             — State Treasurer Bill Lockyer

 

 

 

 

   Read more »

More

2.01.2008

Jerry Waldie on Impeachment (He oughta know)

“Impeachment is not a legal, judicial process. Impeachment is a combination of legal and political with a large portion of the basis for impeaching the president being that there is a political desire on behalf of the American people that it should happen.  

“An example of the contrary, where impeachable offenses were committed but no impeachment was brought – and I would not have supported it had it been – was Reagan and Iran/Contra.    Read more »

More