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[11/1/05 Tuesday]

[Chuck DeVore - Assemblymember, columnist] 12:02 am [permalink]
Follow up on the ballot proposition money race. There are two broad categories of propositions on the ballot on November 8th. One category is that of reform vs. status quo. For the most part, liberals are opposing reform and Governor Schwarzenegger and his allies are supporting reform. Propositions 72 through 77 fall into this category. The other category is that of business or anti-business propositions. Propositions 78-80 are in this latter category.

What’s been raised so far and what’s the cash on hand for each broad category as of today?

Liberals have amassed $102.3 million in opposition to Props. 73-77 with $7.1 million cash on hand.

The Governor and his allies have raised $36.8 million to support Props. 73-77 with $1.4 million cash on hand.

As for the business initiatives, the forces of socialism and regulation have amassed $67.5 million to support Props. 79 and 80 with $1.6 million cash on hand.

Business has raised $120 million to support Prop. 78 and oppose Props. 79 and 80 with $3.8 million cash on hand.

If you merge these together, assuming that to be pro-business is to be pro-reform and a friend of the Governor while the opposite is true, then the combined funds raised of $326.6 million breaks out like this: $169.8 million against business and reform with $156.8 million for reform and pro-business. Cash on hand: $8.7 million for the liberals and $5.2 million for reform. [www.ChuckDeVore.com]

[10/31/05 Monday]

[Eric Hogue - radio talk show host KTKZ - Sacramento] 12:01 am [permalink]
Unions Attack Arnold Supporter in LA Watch this, look at the rage... Public employee union activists showed the utter hypocrisy of their campaign against the special election initiatives on Thursday at a rally in LA's Pershing Square.

While $115 million has been spent by public employee unions to oppose the reform initiatives and promote a message that the voices of their members will be silenced if Prop 75 passes, an angry mob of dues paying union members showed what little respect they have for free speech.

A single Schwarzenegger supporter struggles to hold her ground in a rally against the governor's special election initiatives. Opponents tried to hit her with their signs and some blocked news cameras as she argued her point. The crowd turns quickly, grabbing her signs and tearing them up.  Even a woman wearing an orange security vest rips up the "Vote Yes" signs. (CBS 2 News, October 28, 2005)

Here is you link to view this Union Attack:

http://mediadrool.com/movies-md/Genevieve.wmv

Whipping the crowd into a frenzy was none other than Speaker Fabian Nunez, who was a featured speaker at the rally in Pershing Square.  At the very least, Nunez - a former union organizer himself -  has a duty to issue a public apology to this woman on behalf the union bosses who control him. That is, unless the Speaker believes that violence and thuggery are acceptable forms of public expression.

We recalled the Governor, let's "Recall the System"! [Hogue Blog - email: onair@ktkz.com]

[10/28/05 Friday]

[Ken Masugi - Local Liberty Blog - Claremont Institute] 12:05am [permalink]
California State University: Democratic Depravity, Democratic Excellence Two recent looks at California State University reminded me there is another, more appreciative take as well. The preeminent historian of California Kevin Starr praises the CSU system of four-year universities in what seems extravagant terms:

The CSU system is not just a government agency, however. It is, rather, a primary expression of the collective sovereignty of the people of California. It is the primary means and cutting edge in the struggle for California to sustain itself as a viable, competitive and humane society for ordinary citizens. One could write a history of contemporary California's creation almost exclusively by examining the rise and development of this institution.

Starr sees the Cal State system transforming the poor and the middle-class into professionals. The distinction between the research-oriented and more selective University of California system and the Cal States cannot long prevail, given the needs of students in both systems.

Victor Davis Hanson, writing in the Oct. 24 National Review (subscriber only), regards the “blue-collar” CSU system as ”an admirably idealistic institution with enormous challenges: It educates the children of some 3 to 4 million illegal aliens, deals with a series of state recessions and budget disasters, and survives under the control of the most partisan and politicized state legislature in the country.” The same leftist and trendy agenda dominating UC prevails as well at CSU. Truly liberal education, that releases the mind from the claptrap of the day to dwell on the grand themes and enduring truths of civilization, is virtually nonexistent. But then where does that exist? Hanson himself taught in an outstanding classics program at Cal State Fresno, while producing tomes on the rise of Greek civilization and on war. Hanson’s critique of universities in general (and a scandal at UC Santa Cruz) can be found in the summer issue of the Claremont Review of Books.

In being honored with a membership by the Pi Sigma Alpha chapter at California State University, San Bernardino, I realized what an extraordinary political science education was possible there. (I got the membership, they had to endure a lecture by me.) Its Theta Iota chapter had been designated the outstanding chapter by this national political science honors honor society. I won’t embarrass the department members by mentioning any by name, but I will reiterate that the political science education possible at Cal State San Bernardino is unmatched by the most celebrated institutions in the country. This excellence (per Starr) is a sign of what is possible in a democratic society dedicated to equality of opportunity. Those blue-collar students, who have gone on to professional achievements of the highest order, may well save America from the worst tendencies of its elites. The rarity of its excellence is a sign of the challenge to liberal education at all levels. [visit Local Liberty Blog]

[10/27/05 Thursday]

[Ken Masugi - Local Liberty Blog - Claremont Institute] 12:05am [permalink]
Proposed Riverside Initiative Curbing Eminent Domain Riversiders for Property Rights are trying to qualify an iniitiative amending the Riverside city charter, restricting eminent domain use. They are meeting 6 p.m., Thursday the 27th to distribute petitions. See Riversidepropertyrights.org for further contact information. [visit Local Liberty Blog]

[10/26/05 Wenesday]

[Chuck DeVore - columnist] 12:02 am [permalink]
Cash and ideals fuel the Governor's Reform Agenda: The Special Election on November 8th is tremendously important for California. Success means we can reform California and rebuild the Golden State over the next 20 years. Failure… well, failure is not an option.

There are several political groups engaged in the effort to help Governor Schwarzenegger, among them, the various committees formed specifically to pass Propositions 74, 75, 76 and 77, the California Republican Party, and Governor Schwarzenegger’s California Recovery Team. This latter group is the main umbrella entity leading the Governor’s charge for reform.

Significant contributors to the California Recovery Team include Governor Schwarzenegger himself with $4.25 million of his personal wealth and $1 million from his 2006 reelection fund (this contribution underscoring the importance of success on November 8th with success for Schwarzenegger a year from this November), $1.5 million each from Alex Spanos and Jerry Perenchio, and $1 million each from B. Wayne Hughes and William Robinson.

In addition to these million dollar super contributors, some GOP lawmakers have weighed in as well, with Senators Dick Ackerman, Jim Battin, Bob Dutton, and George Runner writing substantial checks from their campaign accounts.

As of October 24th, the 4 of 15 contributing GOP Senators have been joined by 12 of their 32 Republican colleagues in the Assembly: John Benoit, Chuck DeVore, Bill Emmerson, Doug LaMalfa, Tim Leslie, Kevin McCarthy, Keith Richman, Sharon Runner, Van Tran, Mike Villines, Mimi Walters, and Mark Wyland. In addition, Robin Lowe, a candidate to replace Assemblyman Russ Bogh in the 65th, deserves honorable mention for writing a $2,500 check last week from her campaign account. [www.ChuckDeVore.com]

[10/25/05 Tuesday]

[Eric Hogue - radio talk show host KTKZ - Sacramento] 12:01 am [permalink]
Unions Create Revenge Initiative for Prop 75 The Unions are preparing a revenge initiative for Schwarzenegger's "Prop 75", or the Paycheck Protection Act. The Unions want to gather signatures for a reverse initiative, one that would demand that corporations would have to gain stock holders permission before offering political donations from the companies profits and cash stockpile.

Here is the posting on the SF Chronicle Election Blog:

With Schwarzenegger pushing Prop. 75, which would require labor unions representing government workers to get explicit permission from members before making political contributions, the unions' initiative applies a similar hurdle for corporations.

Dubbed the shareholder protection act, the measure would require companies to receive written permission from shareholders before spending money on campaigns. A corporation would notify shareholders of the amount of money it was proposing to spend on politics for the year, but would only be allowed to spend a percentage of that amount equal to the percentage of shareholders who signed off on the idea.

Union leaders say they are dead-set on placing the initiative on next June's primary ballot, which will likely attract a substantial amount of Democratic voters because the party will be deciding Schwarzenegger's opponent for next November. The governor, by the way, has told more than one reporter that the idea sounds all right with him - those comments will surely be used in an eventual campaign.

The difference?

Remember, if we, (the tax payers of the state), don't like the cozy relationships between the politicians, the unions and controlled legislation - what can we do? Can we boycott the legislation, or the public employee unions?

When it comes to the private sector, if a company invests in politics, and the taxpayers, stock holders or customers don't appreciate the agenda - we (the taxpayers) can boycott the company or the products.

If we do the same to the government, like not paying taxes...we go to jail. This is why the "unions" and their cozy deals with the majority party politicians is inappropriate and illegal. [Hogue Blog - email: onair@ktkz.com]

[10/24/05 Monday]

[Eric Hogue - radio talk show host KTKZ - Sacramento] 12:01 am [permalink]
Honest Journalism on Prop 75 and Unions One of the more balanced article I've ever read in a  California newspaper...

Howard and Edwards represent the poles of opinion among the estimated 100,000 Republican members of the CTA, which this year raised its member's dues by $60 to help fuel an opposition campaign to Schwarzenegger's special-election initiatives. That campaign spending has already topped $13 million.

Whether these GOP teachers bleed Democrat blue or Republican red depends on both their school districts and their preferences, according to a survey of about three dozen Republican teachers in districts from Southern California to Stockton.

"Conflicted" is the word many of them used to describe their feelings about the governor's proposals.

Sure was nice to read a column that describes the power of the unions, the liberal ideology of the CTA, and how they ignore 30% of their Republican membership to drive their liberal agenda.

Let's hope this column gets some needed reading in the Sacramento neighborhood. [Hogue Blog - email: onair@ktkz.com]

[10/20/05 Thursday]

[Ken Masugi - Local Liberty Blog - Claremont Institute] 12:05am [permalink]
Supporting Illegals in the Workplace Two issues from the recall election of two years ago were the staggering amounts paid out in worker's compensation and illegal aliens. The second District Court of Appeal ruled that California law covers illegals for worker compensation benefits (Marc Lipsher, LAT). The court maintained that federal law did not preempt state guarantees. An estimated 2.6 million illegals reside in California.

In the meantime, Beyond Borders Blog gives us this AP account of a workplace ruse to arrest illegals. The workplace was an Air Force Base:

Goldsboro, NC -- Five US senators have questioned a ruse used in July by federal immigration officials to arrest dozens of immigrants working without proper documents at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. The immigrants on construction crews were told to attend a safety meeting, but 48 were arrested once they arrived.

The senators said in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff that they support efforts to enforce the law, but are concerned the tactic will undermine workplace safety training.

Democratic Senators Russell Feingold of Wisconsin, Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, Patty Murray of Washington and Patrick Leahy of Vermont, along with Vermont Independent Jim Jeffords signed the letter.

A spokeswoman for the federal Immigration and Customs agency says the tactic was accepted in law enforcement and assured a safe arrest.

Democrats for safe workplaces!

UPDATE: Conor has a column in yesterday's Daily Bulletin reflecting on one national security dimension of border control, the acceptance of the matricula consular cards.

He asks whether the black market banking services are preferable. My response: Won't such black market services continue precisely because they are not monitored? In other words, national security is not strengthened because monitored banks send money home to illegals's families. [visit Local Liberty Blog]

[10/19/05 Wednesday]

[Eric Hogue - radio talk show host KTKZ - Sacramento] 12:01 am [permalink]
Schwarzenegger to Ohio, Gets Union Endorsement Governor Schwarzenegger and the People's Advocate Director, Ted Costa, will be in Columbus, Ohio tomorrow afternoon for a press conference to announce their endorsement of the "redistricting measure" for the Buckeye State.

Once again, "politics makes for strange bed fellows", Schwarzenegger's California redistricting initiative - Prop 77 - has received the endorsement of Reform Ohio Now, the group running Ohio's redistricting measure.

Making things more interesting, the Labor Unions of Ohio are behind the effort to redistrict that state, and the Labor Unions of Ohio have endorsed Schwarzenegger's Prop 77 from afar.

So, a Republican governor has gone to Ohio to confront the Republican leadership in the Buckeye state when it comes to gerymandered districts, as the Labor Unions of Ohio have endorsed Schwarzenegger's Prop 77 for California, in a move that confronts the Democrats and the Labor/Public Employee Unions of the Golden State.

We might need a scorecard before this is over. [Hogue Blog - email: onair@ktkz.com]

[10/18/05 Tuesday]

[Eric Hogue - radio talk show host KTKZ - Sacramento] 12:01 am [permalink]
Vindication For My Recall Endorsement Under the headline of "Politics Makes for Strange Bed Fellows",  Daniel Weintraub reports this afternoon...

The Prop. 76 campaign is preparing to roll out a new ad featuring Senator. Tom McClintock, who came out of the 2003 recall with high marks for credibility from both Democrats and Republicans and is preparing to run next year for Lt. Governor.

In my nearly six years of broadcasting in Sacramento...the most 'heated moments' for me, as a political talk show host, happened when I endorsed Arnold Schwarzenegger over Tom McClintock for the governor's office.

People wanted to 'tar and feather' me over the 'compromise' as they called it. The decision caused me to lose numerous personal and professional relationships inside of the Capitol, and with the State Senator's staff.

The State Senator is not only endorsing the governor's reform package and budget initiative, McClintock has been holding campaign fund raising events - featuring Schwarzenegger - in preparation for his Lt. Governor's race coming next year.

Now the State Senator McClintock has decided to record a TV commercial for the controversial (Many hard line conservatives call it the most moderate initiative on the ballot) budget proposition.

You better believe I feel vindicated! [Hogue Blog - email: onair@ktkz.com]

[10/17/05 Monday]

[Nick Winter-Found in the ebag from CalTax] 12:02 am [permalink]
Prop 76: Opposition statements about Proposition 76, the budget reform initiative on the November 8 ballot, are predicated on the fact that opponents believe they can get the Legislature to raise taxes by $3.8 billion for schools next year if the initiative is defeated, the California Taxpayers’ Association observed today.

Teacher union lawyer Lance Olson has criticized a campaign commercial based on Cal-Tax’s analysis that funding for schools will increase next year. His criticism is pure fantasy and must be based on (1) his belief that, if Proposition 76 is defeated, the union can successfully lobby for a $3.8 billion tax increase in the Legislature in 2006 and (2) his misunderstanding of the words “increase” and “cut” in the English language.

By repealing “Test 3” of the school funding law, Proposition 76 guarantees that schools will get at least a $3 billion increase in funding next year over what they got this year. Under existing law, and with budget experts expecting that Test 3 of Proposition 98 will remain in effect, a smaller increase will be provided. This is a fact.

The charges that the measure “cuts” school spending by $3.8 billion is based on the union attorney’s belief that the Legislature in 2006 will raise taxes by $3.8 billion and appropriate $6.8 billion in new money for schools, despite a $7.5 billion structural deficit. This is pure wishful thinking, according to Cal-Tax.

And if the Legislature could get a two-thirds vote for a $3.8 billion tax increase, it still cannot fairly be said that Proposition 76 “cuts” school spending. The $3 billion in increased spending would be a smaller increase, but not a cut. The difference between a $6.8 billion increase and a $3 billion increase best meets the definition of “Slobovian loss,” as defined by the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee in a 1980 report. In the “Revenue and Taxation Reference Book,” Slobovian loss is a “loss of something you don’t have but thought you might get.”

[Note: The term “Slobovian loss” originates from the reference to the mythical country of Lower Slobovia in the satirical “Li’l Abner” comic strip classic by Al Capp.]

[10/14/05 Friday]

[Bill Leonard, contributor, Member CA Board of Equalization] 12:05 am [permalink]
The Uninsured Much has been made of the number of people in California without health insurance. Some politicians see this as a huge issue. I was recently given some information as to who the uninsured are. First of all, the statistics are loaded. The number most often used is that 21% of California's population is uninsured. However, the pollster's question is actually this: “Have you been uninsured now or in the past six months?” The wording makes a difference. When asked the question, “Are you uninsured today?”, the answer is 16%. The question has been shaded to up the number, and the difference reflects the normal economic activity in California of people changing jobs.

Since there are public health programs (Medi-Cal) for the poor, the bulk of the uninsured are full- time workers. And the bulk of these folks work for companies that do not offer health insurance. This big group is the target for Health Savings Accounts and health plans with low costs. Interestingly, 17% of those without health insurance who have a job have actually refused the coverage. They have made their own economic decision.

So, more than 80% of the population does have health insurance and another 5% (17% of 21%) decline coverage which further minimizes the problem. The big group who do work and who are not offered health insurance mostly work in the agriculture and construction sectors where they have multiple employers over the year thus making employer-offered coverage impossible.

Government regulations on health insurance policies should be modified to encourage insurance companies to develop products that would be sold directly to the family. Families should be allowed to join their own groups not linked to a particular job so they can get the same discounts on health costs that the big employers get. I am convinced that individuals, if given the options, would be smart in choosing the best health care plans for their families.

[10/13/05 Thursday]

[Bill Leonard, contributor, Member CA Board of Equalization] 12:05 am [permalink]
Prop. 77: Increased Electoral Competition Proposition 77 would reform the process of drawing the lines for electoral districts by taking that power out of the hands of the legislature and awarding it to a carefully-screened panel of retired judges. There is no greater conflict of interest than legislators drawing their own district lines. I know. I did it. I was involved in leadership discussions, lawsuits and map drawing for the 1981, 1991 and 2001 redistricting. I was a Congressional staffer who worked on maps for my boss in 1971 and the 1974 rewrite.

We Republicans made a deal with the Democrats in 2001 to protect as many Congressional Republicans as possible. The alternative was a gerrymander that would have hurt the Republican delegation or resulted in an expensive lawsuit that we would probably have lost. It was a good deal in 2001, but this proposition is a much better deal for the people in 2005.

I authored legislation to create a redistricting commission much like this proposal. It was killed by the Democrat leadership of the legislature. My goal then and now is to create as many competitive districts as possible. These districts force incumbents to pay attention to what their constituents are saying. This is a good thing and so is Prop. 77.

[10/12/05 Wednesday]

[Bill Leonard, contributor, Member CA Board of Equalization] 12:03 am [permalink]
Proposition 76: Live Within Our Means I have been seeking radical changes to the state's budget process for decades. It is an intractable problem because there are so many entrenched interests benefiting from the existing system's chaos. Those entrenched interests apply great political force against any reform attempt because under a more fair system, they would have to work too hard to get the money they get now, or they might not be judged worthy enough to get it at all. As the Governor says, „We do not have a budget process in this state. What we have is an auction among interest groups.‰ We need to put the overall well-being of the state and its taxpayers above the bidders in that auction.

Prop. 76, the Live Within Our Means Act, begins to do that. It is not the ultimate solution, but it is a step in the right direction. This measure will restore to governors the control of fiscal affairs that a chief executive should have-- and did have in California until 1983. First, it will keep the state from spending more money than it takes in. That is just common sense, but it is common sense that eludes the majority party in the legislature. Second, it prohibits the legislature from stealing from special funds like those dedicated to schools, roads, fire and police. Third, it prevents the annual budget delay from hurting schools, Medi-Cal patients and the like by keeping the previous year's budget in place while the new year's details are hammered out. Fourth, it allows for mid-year corrections. Again, that is just common sense. If you had a serious problem occur in your personal finances, would you just wait a year to deal with it? No, you would make course corrections immediately to prevent late payments, running down your savings, or other bad consequences.

I wish Prop. 76 were even stronger. I would like to see serious spending caps and more protection against fee increases. However, Prop. 76 is the only game in town and it is better than the current system, which is worse than broken. Prop. 76 begins to put common sense back into the state's budget process, and it deserves your "yes" vote.

[10/11/05 Tuesday]

[Bill Leonard, contributor, Member CA Board of Equalization] 12:03 am [permalink]
Prop. 75: Compulsory Political Donations I am so torn on Proposition 75. This is the proposed law that would require labor unions of public employees to get written permission from each member before using that member's dues to make political contributions. Normally I would argue that any association has the right to make any rules on its members that it wants to. If I join a church I must confess my faith. If I join a veterans group I have to show my veterans status. If I join a service club I have to commit to giving hours of service. So why should a labor union be barred from using its members dues on politics?

The reason is another older law and if it were not for this law I would not be supporting Proposition 75. This law is the union or closed shop law. The state government of California has agreed to not hire any person who fails to join a labor union. This is a bad law and forces people to become members of a group against their true wishes. Its also leads to abuses like a union leadership that uses union money to support political candidates without the consent of the members.

If I thought there was any chance in the near future that the union shop law would be overturned then I would defend associations where members set their own rules. Where people are forced into associations not of their choosing then it is very appropriate for the government to intervene and set some standards of fairness.

[10/10/05 Monday]

[Ken Masugi - Local Liberty Blog - Claremont Institute] 12:05am [permalink]
LA Times Opposes Parental Notification for Abortion The LA Times gives all the convoluted reasons possible for opposing Proposition 73, the constitutional amendment requiring parental notification for a minor's abortion, and adds others: Such laws don't work, and the abortion rate is declining anyway.

The parental consent laws do work, as poliltical scientist Michael New has shown in his studies. For an overview of his work see here. New is correcting an LAT report that would have him on the opposite side of the issue. See this excerpt from his unprinted letter to the LAT.

[A] study I presented at this summer’s meeting of the Association for Interdisciplinary Research in Values and Social Change specifically examined the effect of parental involvement laws on the incidence of abortion among minors. I analyzed the minor abortion rate for all 50 states for a span of 15 years, holding constant a variety of demographic and economic factors. Not surprisingly, in every statistical model, parental involvement laws were correlated with a statistically significant decline in the minor abortion rate. [visit Local Liberty Blog]

[10/7/05 Friday]

[Ken Masugi - Local Liberty Blog - Claremont Institute] 12:05am [permalink]
Are Indian Tribes Governments or Corporations? Dan Walters notes the intolerable disparities created by Indian "sovereignty"--wanting simultaneously the advantages of governments and private corporations. Moreover, Indian tribes contribute to political campaigns. These difficulties in California underscore the problem with granting tribal status to native Hawaiians; see our earlier post on the Akaka bill. [visit Local Liberty Blog]

[10/6/05 Thursday]

[Jim Kouri, contributor] 12:03 am [permalink]
Thousands of Criminals Nabbed by Border Patrol Since October 1, 2004, Border Patrol agents in the Tucson, AZ Sector have apprehended 27,834 illegal aliens with criminal records, 74 of which were for homicide. Last fiscal year, the Tucson Sector apprehended 14,506 illegal aliens with criminal records. These figures do not include the thousands of criminal aliens apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents or those in other Border Patrol sectors.

For example, Border Patrol agents of the Tucson Sector apprehended an illegal alien with an outstanding murder warrant for his arrest in New York City. The suspect killed his victim, escaped back into Mexico and then re-entered the US at a later date.

Last month, Border Patrol agents from the Casa Grande station apprehended a group of 13 illegal aliens west of Sells, Arizona. All 13 subjects were transported to the Nogales Processing Center where their fingerprints were entered into the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), for comparison with the FBI fingerprint database.

One of the individuals, Jose Luis Castaneda-Cardenas, a 23-year-old Mexican National, was identified as having an outstanding felony warrant for “Felony Murder” and “Misdemeanor Criminal Possession of a Weapon,” in New York City. The New York City Police Department verified the warrant, and confirmed extradition of Castaneda. Castaneda remains in federal custody while he's awaiting extradition to New York.

The technology, the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System or IAFIS, enables Border Patrol agents to search fingerprint databases simultaneously using the Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT) and the FBI fingerprint database. It provides rapid identification of individuals with outstanding criminal warrants by electronically comparing a live-scanned fingerprint with a nationwide database of biometrically indexed fingerprints.

In other incidents, Border Patrol agents of the Tucson Sector arrested two sexual predators. One of which was a United States Citizen, wanted for violent sex crimes. Border agents from the Douglas Station arrested Jose Rodriguez, a 29-year-old illegal alien from Mexico.

At the station, agents identified Rodriguez as having a criminal record in Denver, CO. He was arrested on November 30, 1998 for “Felony Sexual Assault on a Child.” Rodriguez plead guilty and was sentenced to three years incarceration. As a result of his conviction, he was subsequently Ordered Removed from the United States on February 18, 1999.

Rodriguez is currently in federal custody pending removal proceedings and prosecution. Also, agents from the Ajo Station encountered Jorge M. Sam, a 20-year-old United States citizen from Prescott, AZ, on the Tohono O’odham Nation during a vehicle stop. Records checks through the Tucson Sector Communications Center, revealed that Sam had an outstanding warrant for his arrest issued by the US Marshals Service, as a sexually violent predator. The charges on the warrant were “Sexual Assault against a Child” and “Carnal Abuse of a Juvenile under the Age of 14 at Time of Assault.” Sam was arrested and turned over to the Pima County Sheriffs Office to await extradition.

Sources: US Border Patrol, Department of Homeland Security, US Marshals Service, American Federation of Police and Concerned Citizens

[10/5/05 Wednesday]

[Thomas Del Beccaro columnist] 12:02 am [permalink]
History Awaits Him . . . Does it Await You ? When I spoke to Arnold recently, I told him “History awaits you – just stay true.”

I said that because in a few short weeks, he has the chance to change Sacramento, our State and our Country.

His reforms strike at the heart of the problems that affect our governance and they seek real change.

Arnold has paid a price for such leadership. Having to pay such a price for suggesting real reform is not new. Consider this five centuries old quote:

“The reformer has enemies in all those who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the new order, this lukewarmness arising partly from fear of their adversaries, who have the laws in their favor; and partly from the incredulity of mankind, who do not truly believe in anything new until they have actual experience of it."
-Nicolas Machiavelli, The Prince

In that same vein, candidate for CA State Controller Tony Strickland told me that "if you have not attracted enemies in politics, you have not accomplished much."

So now that we understand why Arnold has enemies, the real question is what his friends will do.

Some have complained about the purity of his leadership and therefore offer lukewarm support. But each must ask themselves, if 3 years ago someone told them they could have a Republican governor replace Gray Davis, no new taxes, a balanced budget and a chance for real reform – would they take it? None could honestly say no.

Nor can it honestly be said that Arnold's reforms can be accomplished by him - without the help of many.

So the question arises about whether you, we, us will stand with him in this quest and convince others to help as well.

If you are fed up with the growth in government, then Prop 76 is for you. Make government live within its means. If you want to de-fund the Democrats and the unions, Prop 75 if for you. And it you think we should have fair voting districts, then Prop 77 is for you.

The breadth of those reforms is considerable. So too will be their impact on History.

Don’t let your place in history pass you by.

[10/4/05 Tuesday]

[Ken Masugi - Local Liberty Blog - Claremont Institute] 12:05am [permalink]
"Flash Report" Goes Live, Happy Birthday!  Congratulations to John Fleishman, today his 'new political website' called The Flash Report went 'live'. You can bookmark  The Flash Report by checking his first day of publication.

John is one of the brightest political minds in the state of California. Know for certain, each morning when I rise, I will be logging onto The Flash Report for the latest commentary, political news and behind the scene strategies.

[10/3/05 Monday]

[Ken Masugi -- Local Liberty Blog - Claremont Institute] 12:01 am [permalink]
OJ Simpson Reemerges Steve Lopez gives us some details of the reemergence of OJ Simpson, on the tenth anniversary of his acquittal.

But don't let wrongful death [the civil suit] keep you from collecting a souvenir from the most elusive and slashing runner in history.

For $125, you can get O.J. to sign a USC helmet. For a mere $80, an autographed copy of the Simpson book "I Want to Tell You" will make a great holiday gift for a loved one. I once saw a remaindered copy in which someone had changed "Tell" to "Kill," but it's not clear whether O.J. would sign such a book.

"It's only for sports-related items," Riccio said. "He won't sign pictures of him in the courtroom, or him running around in the Bronco, or him holding up a glove."

It gets worse. Riccio told me O.J. won't sign a knife, either.

When you're on the trail of your ex-wife's killer, you don't want to come off like some kind of carnival act. [visit Local Liberty Blog]

[9/30/05 Friday]

[Ken Masugi - Local Liberty Blog - Claremont Institute] 12:05am [permalink]
Claremont's Dreier Rejected for Leadership Role House Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier, whose district has always included Claremont, was proposed by Speaker Hastert to take over for Tom DeLay in his absence as Majority Leader (Shailagh Murray and Jim VanderHei, Wash Post).

There was one big problem: When DeLay's indictment was unsealed yesterday, conservatives in the GOP caucus immediately erupted in anger over rumors that the selection of Dreier, whom they regard as too moderate, was being presented as a fait accompli.

As the conservatives met to vent frustrations and plot options, Hastert was changing course in a separate meeting on the second floor of the Capitol. Rep. Roy Blunt (Mo.), the majority whip, was making a personal appeal for the promotion. Hastert agreed, forestalling a possible revolt by conservatives, who regard Blunt as one of their own.

Michelle Malkin has a host of links on Dreier and DeLay, including this one from Mark Levin, former Lincoln Fellow of the Claremont Institute and author of Men in Black (reviewed here): "I can't find a single sentence [in the indictment] tying Tom DeLay to a crime. That is, there's not a single sentence tying DeLay to the contribution."

Another former Lincoln Fellow, Michael Ramirez, is not amused. [visit Local Liberty Blog]

Go to CRO Blog September 2005

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