Archive for F.Y.I
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
Posted by: | CommentsNew York City. The Pentagon, Washington D.C. A field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Everyday people went to work and boarded planes. After the horror’s of the events were realized countless others risked and sacrificed to aid and save. In those hours of devastation it was clear we were attacked and at war. Today, 8 years later our brave men and women of our armed forces, intelligent services and law enforcement continue to fight this war on terror. We must NEVER find comfort in complacency. As images of that day fade and rarely air on our televisions we must remember those we lost and have continued to lose. We must be vigilant when the topic of our nation’s security shifts to the semantics of enhanced interrogation techniques and Miranda rights of enemy combatants. We can not for one moment forget we are at war with terrorists, who despise us for simply being who we are…Americans.
After the memorials of this day pass and the 2,974 bell tolls silent for another year: Remember…Never forget.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2009: Poizner Makes A Mess
Posted by: | CommentsWith 9 months to go before the June 8th California primary election, Insurance Commissioner and 2010 Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner isn’t wasting anytime getting messy with his primary opponent Meg Whitman.
The single-sided mud slinging started a few weeks ago when Poizner launched a new website www.PoiznerFacts.com to share facts about his opponent and refute “Meg’s smear campaign”. The site hits Whitman’s inconsistent voting and “ducking” of debate invitations:
“FACT: Meg Whitman and her campaign are willing to say and do anything to avoid open debate.”
Ouch. As for the “smear campaign”, Poizner has posted what appears to be an email from Whitman Press Secretary Sarah Pompei to Jarrod Agen with an attached MP4 file named “Steve Poizner on prisons” What that’s about, who knows? Poizner says the smear campaign is a diversion from Whitman’s imperfections:
“Clearly, Meg Whitman and her team will do and say anything to hide the fact that she doesn’t vote, won’t debate, and is not a conservative”
RINO (Republican in name only) name calling, double OUCH!
This past week, Poizner ramped up the rhetoric with an internet video parody titled the “Love Boat”. In this web gem (which is actually funny) Whitman is nailed for her praise of President Obama’s Green Job’s Czar Van Jones, who resigned this weekend under the cloak of darkness in controversial disgrace. In July 2008 Whitman went on a climate change cruise with Van Jones and Jimmy Carter and Jones made quite an impression. In the video Whitman claims to be a “huge fan” of Van Jones and gushes on how “bright” and “articulate” he is.
Whitman being linked to a self avowed communist and 9/11 truther gives more than enough ammunition to Poizner to use against her, and he was smart to make such clever use of it. As for the debate “ducking” someone should tell Poizner it’s September. It might be prudent to engage in a debate when California is actually paying attention to the Governor’s race. For example, ask anyone in California who is running for Governor and you’ll see a lot of head scratching. Whether or not Poizner’s politics as usual will have the desired effect remains to be seen next June. I suspect Whitman will continue to keep the focus on her strategic initiatives for California: economy, jobs and education.
Just in case your keeping score: 0 references to opponent’s on Meg Whitman’s website.
August 27, 2009: ECO-Tyranny Protest In Sacramento Tomorrow
Posted by: | CommentsThousands are set to converge on Sacramento Friday to protest California’s radical environmental legislation that has jobs in the state drying up like the water flow from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.
The “March On Sacramento”, organized by the TEA Party Patriot’s and other groups, will largely focus on A.B. 32 California’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. This legislation mandates greenhouse gas emissions return to 1990 levels by 2020, requires businesses to report their greenhouse gas emissions to the California Air Resource Board (CARB) and a schedule of fee’s paid by “regulated resources” to encourage compliance.
In California we are the canaries in the coal mine and are typically used as a petri dish. Wanna know what Cap ‘n Trade will look like for the nation if passed by Congress? Just look at California’s disastrous legislation. To say A.B. 32 is disastrous for California would be a gross understatement. In the last year alone, California has lost more than 100,000 manufacturing jobs. Businesses have made a mass exodus to other states with less regulation. The full impact of A.B. 32 will cost 1.1 million jobs, a loss of about $5.8 billion in indirect business taxes and $76.8 billion lost labor income. In a state with skyrocketing unemployment and frequent budget deficits we can little afford legislation that forces businesses and jobs out of the state taking much needed tax revenue with them as they go.
There is light at the end of the tunnel: A.B. 118 introduced by Assembly member Dan Logue (R-D3), which if enacted, would repeal the caustic A.B. 32.
If you can make it to Sacramento by all means go, if not you can still take part from home. While Californian’s are at the capital getting the message out loud and clear have your voice heard by calling, faxing and emailing your elected official. Tell them how you feel about California’s ECO-Tyranny legislation and ask them to repeal A.B. 32 by voting YES on A.B 118.
For more info on the event visit www.SAC828.org
July 30, 2009: Schwarzenegger Calls for Special Session To “Fix” Tax System
Posted by: | CommentsOn the heels of closing the book on the states “latest and greatest” budget, Governor Schwarzenegger is calling for a special legislative session set for September to address California’s tax system.
The Legislators will be called on to act on the recommendations handed down in a report due September 20 from the 21st Century Economy commission. The bipartisan, 14 member commission was formed by Governor Schwarzenegger and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass in October 2008 to modernize and stabilize the states tax system. The goal of the commission is to:
- Establish 21st century tax structure that fits with state’s 21st century economy;
- Stabilize state revenues and reduce volatility;
- Promote the long-term economic prosperity of the state and its citizens;
- Improve California’s ability to successfully compete with other states and nations for jobs and investments;
- Reflect principles of sound tax policy including simplicity, competitiveness, efficiency, predictability, stability and ease of compliance and administration;
- Ensure that tax structure is fair and equitable.
The last one has me just a bit nervous. Generally when California politicians speak of making the tax structure “fair and equitable” that is code for raising taxes. Here is the Governor’s statement on calling the special session:
“For too long our broken tax system has taken Californians on an unwelcome rollercoaster ride. This Commission will help change that, and provide students, teachers, the elderly and the poor a more reliable funding stream. I assure all Californians that I will call on the full legislative body to immediately consider the Commission’s recommendations as soon as they are submitted.”
The last meeting scheduled by the commission on July 22 in Los Angeles was cancelled. The presentations from the meeting on July 16 are available on the commissions web site. The “Tax Structure Options” are worth a quick read through.
JULY 7, 2009: City Of LA Asking For Donations For Jackson Memorial
Posted by: | Comments
The City of LA's Website AD
Do to public outrage I’m sure, the City of Los Angeles is soliciting donations to help defray the costs of Michael Jackson’s memorial service today at Staples Center. The City has established a PayPal account for tax-deductible donations.
Once all public services are figured in (police, fire, paramedics) the cities tab is expected to run about $4 MILLION dollars. Not surprising, between the ticket distribution at Dodger Stadium, the private service at Forest Lawn and the public memorial at Staples it’s a logistical nightmare for the City. Keep in mind Los Angeles in true California financial calamity fashion is in the red with a deficit of over $550 MILLION dollars.
City Councilwoman Jan Perry stated that the overtime for the LAPD would be paid out of a reserve fund in the City’s budget. The fund which is generally used for extraordinary events such as natural or major disasters, and special events like, marches and protests has plenty of cash as the new fiscal year started on July 1st. Perry is acting as Mayor while Antonio Villaraigosa vacations in Africa and Eric Garcetti, City Council President is in Japan.
If you remember a few short weeks ago, the city expenses for the Lakers Championship Parade was exclusively funded by private donations. The Lakers are a major source of revenue for the City of LA and yet the City was not burdened with the cost associated with their victory parade.
AEG, the company who owns Staples Center and the promoter of what was to be Jackson’s up coming tour, stands to make millions, maybe even billions off rehearsal footage of Michael in the weeks and days before his death. Can they not foot the bill for the city services? What about the revenue from concessions inside the event at Staples and the fees paid by media for spots outside the venue? AEG is flush with cash; the City of LA is not.
This is not about Michael; it’s about money and LA cities fiscal irresponsibility and failure to shield the taxpayers from an unnecessary burden.
Call AEG and ask them to do the right thing. It’s obvious the LA City Council isn’t going to. Contact AEG President and CEO Tim Leiweke at the companies corporate headquarters (213) 763-7700 located in downtown Los Angeles.
JUNE 11, 2009: Time To Reign In The House “Nuts”
Posted by: | CommentsWednesday on Bill O’Reilly’s FOX News show he aimed his wrath in California Congresswoman and Speaker of The House Nancy Pelosi’s direction.
Congress is in the process of voting for troop funding in Iraq and Afghanistan. Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) have introduced the Detainee Photographic Records Protection Act, an amendment to 2346 supplemental bill which has passed the Senate but has been axed by a handful in the House. The bill would prohibit the release of detainee photo’s which would only be used as propaganda against our military and our Country by terrorists.
The ACLU filled a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit to force these photo’s to be released.
Release of these photos is not about transparency, it’s about feeding a fire that will only bring harm to our men and women in uniform. It’s unfortunate that there are those in our own House of Representatives standing on the sidelines fanning the flames. Speaker Pelosi first said she would support the amendment to 2346 but has yet to actually step up and “reign in the nuts” as O’Reilly puts it.
Contact Speaker Pelosi and ask her to get her “House” in order. Demand the Detainee Photographic Records Protection Act be put back in the supplemental bill and passed.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi?http://speaker.house.gov/contact
Office of the Speaker?H-232, US Capitol?Washington, DC 20515?(202) 225-0100
JUNE 3, 2009: Arnold’s Day Of Reckoning
Posted by: | CommentsTuesday in Sacramento, Governor Schwarzenegger received a standing ovation from the legislature during his joint session budget address.
In the address, he praised the legislature for coming together in February, despite ideological differences, to solve $36 BILLION of a $42 BILLION dollar deficit. This amounts to a pat on the head of lawmakers for stabbing the taxpayers of California in the back.
The Governor regurgitates the same rhetoric about getting the voter’s message “loud and clear”. Again he is half right in word and almost completely wrong in theory.
We are again given the sob story of what a task it is to make hard decisions during this crisis. “I know the consequences of these cuts are not just dollars. I see the faces behind those dollars…I see the children whose teacher will be laid-off… I see the Alzheimer’s’ patients losing some of their In-Home Support Services… I see the firefighters and police officers who will lose their jobs. People come up to me all the time, pleading, ‘Governor, please don’t cut my program.’ They tell me how the cuts will affect them and their loved ones. I see the pain in their eyes and hear the fear in their voice. It’s an awful feeling.”
So now were back to fear mongering and guilt, how original.
The Governor wants to use the states financial crisis as an opportunity to make the government more efficient and find creative ways to stretch taxpayer revenue. Citing the need for the Board of Education to make textbooks available online, restructuring the relationship between state and local government, eliminating and consolidating more than a dozen state departments, boards and commissions like the Waste Management Board. Great idea. It takes a crisis of this magnitude to figure out the state needs to spend our money more efficiently?
The Governor did have a stroke of sensibility when he addressed the spending on prison’s has just about doubled in the last five years. In California we spend approximately $49,000 annually per inmate. The national average is $32,000 annually per inmate. When the legislature is prepared to take an honest look at the cost differences we will be on the road to fiscal sanity.
In a line out of a Hollywood blockbuster, the Governor declares, “California’s day of reckoning is here”. In reality, this statement comes a few years to late. It’s nice to know the Governor finally caught up to that page in his script.
MAY 28, 2009: End The Fed
Posted by: | CommentsMomentum is growing for Congressman Ron Paul’s (R-Texas) bill H.R. 1207: Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009. The bill would force the Comptroller General of the United States to complete, before the end of 2010, an audit of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Reserve Bank with a full report issued to Congress. The Federal Reserve is the private organization that controls our nation’s currency, which currently only operates with minimal over site. The Federal Reserve has the ability to manipulate and devalue our currency and sets the interest rates. Currently there are over 170 co-sponsors of the bill including California Representatives Rep. George Radanovich [R-CA19], Rep. Kevin McCarthy [R-CA22], Rep. Edward Royce [R-CA40], Rep. Walter Herger [R-CA2], Rep. Tom McClintock [R-CA4], Rep. Fortney Stark [D-CA13], Rep. Ken Calvert [R-CA44], Rep. Mary Bono Mack [R-CA45], Rep. Lynn Woolsey [D-CA6], Rep. Brian Bilbray [R-CA50], Rep. Daniel Lungren [R-CA3], Rep. Duncan Hunter [R-CA52], Rep. John Campbell [R-CA48].
Pressure is now on California Congresswoman and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to schedule a debate and allow H.R. 1207 to come up for a roll call vote.
Do you know where your Representative stands on H.R. 1207? Give them a call and find out. You can search for your Representative on the Office of the Clerk web site.
Contact Speaker Pelosi and urge her to allow H.R.1207 to come to the house floor for a vote.
MAY 12, 2009: The Governor Actually Has A Good Idea
Posted by: | CommentsGovernor Schwarzenegger is supporting Senate bill 815, which is currently in front of the legislature that offers financial collage aid to our California National Guardsmen and Women. California is the only state in the country to not offer this as a benefit to the Guard. The bill would provide $3.6 MILLION dollars annually for collage funding which works out to be about $7,000 for each Guards member.
It seems to me, if we can offer collage aid to just about everyone under the sun here in California wouldn’t it be logical to also offer it to the brave men and woman who not only fight our fires here at home but also fight for our country in Afghanistan and Iraq? Now if we could just figure a way to pay for it…..
MAY 7, 2009: Villines Makes It Official
Posted by: | CommentsAssemblyman Mike Villines officially announced today that he would resign from his position as Assembly Republican Leader at the end of this month.
Elected today to take over on June 1st, is Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee of the 33rd District, which includes; San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, and Paso Robles.
of the 33rd District, which includes; San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, and Paso Robles.