Finally...our errant empty suit press release mayor has dropped out of the governor's race. Newsom claims he's dropping out of the race to focus on being mayor and on being a daddy. I think he's dropping out because he was getting his ass kicked by a guy who hasn't even declared yet...
Meg Whitman won't win this race (thank goodness). That leaves us with one inevitable possibility:
Reagan. Wilson. Davis. Schwarzenneger. Feinstein. Brown (both of 'em). Whitman. Why is it that California is saddled with bad choices?
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Friday, October 30, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
I Can Haz Nobel?
The newshole is awash with stories of President Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize. He's in rare company, as only the third sitting US President (after Wilson and Teddy Roosevelt) to win the award. Predictably, Republicans are up in arms over the announcement, scoffing at the idea of giving the award to a man who's been in office nine months. Of course, these are the same Republicans who scoff at the very idea of a Peace Prize itself...they don't exactly have a great track record in the peace arena.
At the end of the day, I think this is probably a bit premature, and will be an unneeded distraction for an administration with an ambitious agenda and tons of corporate money working against that agenda. In the end, I think Obama got the award precisely because he's not George W Bush. After 8 disastrous years of war, pestilence, cowboy diplomacy, and ugly nationalism I can see how some would think a small change back towards "normal" warrants this much attention. But where I come from you don't get a reward just for doing the right thing...you need to go above and beyond. Stop the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Increase US foreign aid (the peaceful kind, not the military kind) to more than 1% of the federal budget. End poverty here at home...then we'll talk.
At the end of the day, I think this is probably a bit premature, and will be an unneeded distraction for an administration with an ambitious agenda and tons of corporate money working against that agenda. In the end, I think Obama got the award precisely because he's not George W Bush. After 8 disastrous years of war, pestilence, cowboy diplomacy, and ugly nationalism I can see how some would think a small change back towards "normal" warrants this much attention. But where I come from you don't get a reward just for doing the right thing...you need to go above and beyond. Stop the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Increase US foreign aid (the peaceful kind, not the military kind) to more than 1% of the federal budget. End poverty here at home...then we'll talk.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Carter Leaves Southern Baptists
Former President Jimmy Carter has left the Southern Baptist Convention because of growing frustration over the denomination's "unbending sexism towards women and girls..."
About time, Jimmy.
About time, Jimmy.
Friday, July 10, 2009
House Dems: Tax the Wealthy to Pay For Health Reform
I keep having to pinch myself. House Democrats have proposed a modest income surtax on individuals with incomes above $280,000 and couples with income over $350,000. The tax would raise around $540 billion, and would be used to pay for nearly half of the proposed health care reforms. Just a few years ago, this modest idea would have been laughed out of the halls of Congress. Even these days, the blue dog democrats might kill it. But it's at least refreshing to see that some in the halls of power appreciate the idea of progressive taxation.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
The Shine is Starting to Come Off
This has been one of the more Clintonesque weeks in the nascent Obama administration. On Wednesday, Obama announced that he will oppose a court order to release photos of prisoner abuse at the hands of US military and intelligence personnel. And the Administration announced today that it will be keeping the Bush system of military tribunals in place with only slight modifications.
Whether these moves stem from the sort of crass political triangulation our phillandering former President made famous or not is unclear. What is clear is the fact that both decisions were wrong. Candidate Obama campaigned in part on the justifiable horror that many Americans felt upon finding out about the prior Administration's torture of detainees and its extra-constitutional system of kangaroo courts. We placed our faith in a man who said he would end the abuse and try people in US courts...according to the law of the land.
I can't help but feel betrayed. I suppose we shouldn't be surprised...the Democratic Party's mission in recent years is to impement Republican policies when Republicans can't get elected. But perhaps I expected more from a man who's been labelled a transformation figure in American history.
Whether these moves stem from the sort of crass political triangulation our phillandering former President made famous or not is unclear. What is clear is the fact that both decisions were wrong. Candidate Obama campaigned in part on the justifiable horror that many Americans felt upon finding out about the prior Administration's torture of detainees and its extra-constitutional system of kangaroo courts. We placed our faith in a man who said he would end the abuse and try people in US courts...according to the law of the land.
I can't help but feel betrayed. I suppose we shouldn't be surprised...the Democratic Party's mission in recent years is to impement Republican policies when Republicans can't get elected. But perhaps I expected more from a man who's been labelled a transformation figure in American history.
Did Pelosi Know About Torture?
A public fight has erupted between Nancy Pelosi and the CIA. The spy agency claims it briefed Pelosi that it briefed the Speaker on its use of torture during interrogations as far back as 2002. Pelosi claims only that she was made aware of legal memos clearing the Bush Administration to use torture, but was told that the tactics hadn't been employed.
The spy agency had issued a chart saying Pelosi, then the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, and Porter Goss, the committee chairman at the time, were given "a description of the particular EITs (enhanced interrogation techniques) that had been employed."
I have to wonder...does this nuance really matter? Pelosi saw evidence in 2002 that the Bush Administration was starting to cover its ass in order to torture prisoners and she did nothing. She didn't try to stop it, she didn't go public. In fact, Pelosi then took impeachment off the table. That's despicable. And it's wrong.
The sad part is that this fiasco probably won't do any lasting damage to Pelosi's career. She'll still be Speaker of the House, she'll still get re-elected, she'll still raise loads of corporate cash for Democrats in the House, and she'll continue her long and undistinguished record of failing to represent her constituents' views in Washington. From voting for the Iraq war to blocking the impeachment of the most criminal and corrupt President in a generation, she always turns her back on real San Francisco values.
The spy agency had issued a chart saying Pelosi, then the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, and Porter Goss, the committee chairman at the time, were given "a description of the particular EITs (enhanced interrogation techniques) that had been employed."
I have to wonder...does this nuance really matter? Pelosi saw evidence in 2002 that the Bush Administration was starting to cover its ass in order to torture prisoners and she did nothing. She didn't try to stop it, she didn't go public. In fact, Pelosi then took impeachment off the table. That's despicable. And it's wrong.
The sad part is that this fiasco probably won't do any lasting damage to Pelosi's career. She'll still be Speaker of the House, she'll still get re-elected, she'll still raise loads of corporate cash for Democrats in the House, and she'll continue her long and undistinguished record of failing to represent her constituents' views in Washington. From voting for the Iraq war to blocking the impeachment of the most criminal and corrupt President in a generation, she always turns her back on real San Francisco values.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
My Aura Smiles and Never Frowns
Many Californians remember Governor Moonbeam Jerry Brown. His father was governor, he was governor, and he followed the worst governor in our state's history. So maybe his forced spraying of malathion over urban areas fell a little short of the Reagan gold standard for ruining the state. But he was a terrible governor nonetheless. And now he wants to be governor again, pledging no new taxes along the way. No new taxes? In a state with a structural and perennial budget deficit? How insane is that?
Rule of thumb: when the Dead Kennedys write a song about you, it pretty much means you suck:
Rule of thumb: when the Dead Kennedys write a song about you, it pretty much means you suck:
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Mr. Frost Goes to Washington
Halsey (Anne's brother) attended the signing of the SCHIP bill yesterday, and got to meet President Obama in a private reception in the green room.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Blood Orgies in the Park
The First Ammendment to the Constitution reads:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Pretty clear, huh? That means permanent religious displays should be verbotten on public property. That's simple, and easy to understand...even to judicial conservatives who claim to stick to the framers' original intent. So why is the Supreme Court taking a case involving duelling religious displays in a public park?
The Aphorisms are the guiding principles of Summum, a religious organization that operates from a pyramid in Salt Lake City and practices mummification. They are so important to Summum that the group's founder, Summum "Corky" Ra, asked that they be displayed in a public park in Pleasant Grove, Utah, near a Ten Commandments monument.
Summum wants a religious display in a public park...a park where there's already the Ten Commandments display. To anyone with any sense, the answer is clear: the Constitution prohibits any religious display on public property. To allow any religious display is to respect the establishment of a religion. Why does it matter whether Summum should be allowed to engage in free speech? Free speech would involve Summum people standing in the park holding signs...a permanent display is different. The Constitutional answer is unambiguous: remove all the religious displays from the park. Let's see whether the Bush Supreme Court, and its recently-installed evangelicals and idealogues respect the framers' intent or twist logic to suit their ends.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Pretty clear, huh? That means permanent religious displays should be verbotten on public property. That's simple, and easy to understand...even to judicial conservatives who claim to stick to the framers' original intent. So why is the Supreme Court taking a case involving duelling religious displays in a public park?
The Aphorisms are the guiding principles of Summum, a religious organization that operates from a pyramid in Salt Lake City and practices mummification. They are so important to Summum that the group's founder, Summum "Corky" Ra, asked that they be displayed in a public park in Pleasant Grove, Utah, near a Ten Commandments monument.
Summum wants a religious display in a public park...a park where there's already the Ten Commandments display. To anyone with any sense, the answer is clear: the Constitution prohibits any religious display on public property. To allow any religious display is to respect the establishment of a religion. Why does it matter whether Summum should be allowed to engage in free speech? Free speech would involve Summum people standing in the park holding signs...a permanent display is different. The Constitutional answer is unambiguous: remove all the religious displays from the park. Let's see whether the Bush Supreme Court, and its recently-installed evangelicals and idealogues respect the framers' intent or twist logic to suit their ends.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Another Parting Gift from the Bushies
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has quietly given US banks a tax cut windfall of $140 billion:
The financial world was fixated on Capitol Hill as Congress battled over the Bush administration's request for a $700 billion bailout of the banking industry. In the midst of this late-September drama, the Treasury Department issued a five-sentence notice that attracted almost no public attention.
But corporate tax lawyers quickly realized the enormous implications of the document: Administration officials had just given American banks a windfall of as much as $140 billion.
The ruling, which is arguably illegal, is focused on whether banks are allowed to buy other banks in order to claim their losses for tax purposes:
Section 382 of the tax code was created by Congress in 1986 to end what it considered an abuse of the tax system: companies sheltering their profits from taxation by acquiring shell companies whose only real value was the losses on their books. The firms would then use the acquired company's losses to offset their gains and avoid paying taxes.
Lawmakers decried the tax shelters as a scam and created a formula to strictly limit the use of those purchased losses for tax purposes.
But from the beginning, some conservative economists and Republican administration officials criticized the new law as unwieldy and unnecessary meddling by the government in the business world.
Yet another gift to the corporate world from the most corrupt and criminal administration in our nation's history. Let's hope President-Elect Obama orders his Treasury Secretary to reverse this ruling. Our national trasure has already been bled dry by tax-cheating corporations and the rich who control them. This kind of crap has to stop.
In related news, the Bushies are refusing to disclose which banks have sought financial aid. That's your government in action: more graft, less disclosure.
The financial world was fixated on Capitol Hill as Congress battled over the Bush administration's request for a $700 billion bailout of the banking industry. In the midst of this late-September drama, the Treasury Department issued a five-sentence notice that attracted almost no public attention.
But corporate tax lawyers quickly realized the enormous implications of the document: Administration officials had just given American banks a windfall of as much as $140 billion.
The ruling, which is arguably illegal, is focused on whether banks are allowed to buy other banks in order to claim their losses for tax purposes:
Section 382 of the tax code was created by Congress in 1986 to end what it considered an abuse of the tax system: companies sheltering their profits from taxation by acquiring shell companies whose only real value was the losses on their books. The firms would then use the acquired company's losses to offset their gains and avoid paying taxes.
Lawmakers decried the tax shelters as a scam and created a formula to strictly limit the use of those purchased losses for tax purposes.
But from the beginning, some conservative economists and Republican administration officials criticized the new law as unwieldy and unnecessary meddling by the government in the business world.
Yet another gift to the corporate world from the most corrupt and criminal administration in our nation's history. Let's hope President-Elect Obama orders his Treasury Secretary to reverse this ruling. Our national trasure has already been bled dry by tax-cheating corporations and the rich who control them. This kind of crap has to stop.
In related news, the Bushies are refusing to disclose which banks have sought financial aid. That's your government in action: more graft, less disclosure.
The Change Begins
President-Elect Obama is quietly planning to close the US gulag at Guantanamo Bay:
During his campaign, Obama described Guantanamo as a "sad chapter in American history" and has said generally that the U.S. legal system is equipped to handle the detainees. But he has offered few details on what he planned to do once the facility is closed.
Under plans being put together in Obama's camp, some detainees would be released and many others would be prosecuted in U.S. criminal courts.
A third group of detainees — the ones whose cases are most entangled in highly classified information — might have to go before a new court designed especially to handle sensitive national security cases, according to advisers and Democrats involved in the talks. Advisers participating directly in the planning spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans are not final.
I'm not too crazy about any alternate system of "justice" but this is a refreshing start. Guantanamo is but one of the blemishes on the face of US democracy we've developed over the past 8 years. For sure, this is a baby step. I'd like to see the entire base closed, as it's arguably not a strategic asset and it raises the ire of Cubans. We're clearly not welcome there, and it behooves the US to be a good neighbor. But I'll welcome the closure of the prison any day. Now, who wants to start taking wagers on whether Obama will close the School of the Americas?
During his campaign, Obama described Guantanamo as a "sad chapter in American history" and has said generally that the U.S. legal system is equipped to handle the detainees. But he has offered few details on what he planned to do once the facility is closed.
Under plans being put together in Obama's camp, some detainees would be released and many others would be prosecuted in U.S. criminal courts.
A third group of detainees — the ones whose cases are most entangled in highly classified information — might have to go before a new court designed especially to handle sensitive national security cases, according to advisers and Democrats involved in the talks. Advisers participating directly in the planning spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans are not final.
I'm not too crazy about any alternate system of "justice" but this is a refreshing start. Guantanamo is but one of the blemishes on the face of US democracy we've developed over the past 8 years. For sure, this is a baby step. I'd like to see the entire base closed, as it's arguably not a strategic asset and it raises the ire of Cubans. We're clearly not welcome there, and it behooves the US to be a good neighbor. But I'll welcome the closure of the prison any day. Now, who wants to start taking wagers on whether Obama will close the School of the Americas?
Thursday, October 16, 2008
America - WTF?
It's a quandary. America's economy is faltering in a way not seen in generations. We've got simultaneous wars in the middle east draining our public coffers. We're torturing people now, with the blessing of our so-called leaders. Many people weren't saving at all, and those who are saving have seen those savings dwindle significantly as the bears take over on Wall Street. The middle class has seen stagnating wages for nearly 30 years, while the total amount they pay in taxes, fees, and other charges, while the rich have seen greater returns and lower taxes. Health insurance premiums have risen many times faster than wages under our privatized health care system. And I'm out of coffee.
How is it that we came to this point? How did the empire come so close to falling? How has the most productive, innovative, and charitable nation in the world get to this point? How could we have elected a series of "leaders" who brought us to this juncture? Our political system is broken. That, in turn, has broken our economic system. We've voted for greed, corruption, xenophobia, and against the public good for over 30 years. We've treated America not as a society, but as a market. We all want to be Paris Hilton, even though that's not likely. We're living in a state of denial.
How do we get all of this? Electing Barack Obama is a fair first step, but it won't solve anything by itself. Giving Obama a strong mandate for change will help too. But we won't start doing better until we get down to the real work: reform elections, encourage savings, provide health care to all Americans, quell the pain of losing a job, stop spending money on unnecessary wars, stop locking people up for minor crimes, and focus government help on all of society...not just the rich.
How is it that we came to this point? How did the empire come so close to falling? How has the most productive, innovative, and charitable nation in the world get to this point? How could we have elected a series of "leaders" who brought us to this juncture? Our political system is broken. That, in turn, has broken our economic system. We've voted for greed, corruption, xenophobia, and against the public good for over 30 years. We've treated America not as a society, but as a market. We all want to be Paris Hilton, even though that's not likely. We're living in a state of denial.
How do we get all of this? Electing Barack Obama is a fair first step, but it won't solve anything by itself. Giving Obama a strong mandate for change will help too. But we won't start doing better until we get down to the real work: reform elections, encourage savings, provide health care to all Americans, quell the pain of losing a job, stop spending money on unnecessary wars, stop locking people up for minor crimes, and focus government help on all of society...not just the rich.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
McCain's "New" Economic Plan...WTF?
What would you think if the person who raped you later hit on you in a bar? I know, I know...that's a harsh analogy. But it aptly describes some of the drivel John McCain is trying to recycle and shovel down our throats. A cut in the capital gains tax? Please...That's a retread and a non-starter. Regular people are hurting. Regular people don't usually pay capital gains taxes, but the rich sometimes do. And as Barack Obama so elegantly put it, nobody really has capital gains right now. Giving yet another tax break to the wealthiest Americans, the very people who got us into this mess, is not appropriate. Reaganomics caused our current economic woes. It's time to stop practicing them in government.
Along the same theme, I heard a fairly refreshing interview with Ralph Nader today. I'm not supporting him this year, but it was great to hear some of his ideas. Among the ones that caught my ear:
Adopting a securities speculation tax
Nader's claims of this tax generating $500 billion may be a bit high, but it's a worthy proposal on just the merits. If the miscreants on Wall Street are profiting on our misery, let's at least make them pay for part of their bailout.
Fair Trade
It's time to stop offshoring jobs and production just because it's cheaper. America's prosperity begins with production at home.
Fair Taxation
The rich have skipped out on paying their fair share for a generation or more. It's time we brought back fair taxation. That, for me, means a heavily progressive income tax...and it means taxing real work at lower rates than simply moving money around. Our system does exactly the opposite right now.
Hey Barack...you'd do well to read some of these. It's time for a fundamental change in how we do economic policy, and you're going to win the presidency. Fixing this is your job, and you'd better listen to the brightest minds in our society.
Along the same theme, I heard a fairly refreshing interview with Ralph Nader today. I'm not supporting him this year, but it was great to hear some of his ideas. Among the ones that caught my ear:
Adopting a securities speculation tax
Nader's claims of this tax generating $500 billion may be a bit high, but it's a worthy proposal on just the merits. If the miscreants on Wall Street are profiting on our misery, let's at least make them pay for part of their bailout.
Fair Trade
It's time to stop offshoring jobs and production just because it's cheaper. America's prosperity begins with production at home.
Fair Taxation
The rich have skipped out on paying their fair share for a generation or more. It's time we brought back fair taxation. That, for me, means a heavily progressive income tax...and it means taxing real work at lower rates than simply moving money around. Our system does exactly the opposite right now.
Hey Barack...you'd do well to read some of these. It's time for a fundamental change in how we do economic policy, and you're going to win the presidency. Fixing this is your job, and you'd better listen to the brightest minds in our society.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Thanks a Lot, Repugs
We're in the midst of the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression. Equity markets are in turmoil. Creditors aren't lending. Retirement savings have disappeared overnight. And the pain is going to hit the poor and middle class hardest. This, my friends, is the legacy of deregulation and market findamentalism that started in the Reagan era, continued through Clinton, and has finally come to a head during the worst presidency in our nation's history.
It's time for this nation to stop trusting the bought-and-paid-for politicians who pushed us into this mess. Anybody preaching a market "solution" to our current problems should be thrown out of the public square, tarred and feathered, and ignored ever more. Their credibility is now nil. In short, it's time for a return to rational thought.
It's time for this nation to stop trusting the bought-and-paid-for politicians who pushed us into this mess. Anybody preaching a market "solution" to our current problems should be thrown out of the public square, tarred and feathered, and ignored ever more. Their credibility is now nil. In short, it's time for a return to rational thought.
Election 2008 - My Picks
2008 is a pivotal year in American civil life. Our economy is imploding, America is conducting two wars, and the world seems to be on edge. And Americans are ready for change. Here's what my ballot will look like:
PRESIDENT
Barack Obama
For the first time in my adult life, I'll vote for the Democratic nominee for president. And I'll do it proudly, with no reservations. Barack Obama is the best candidate the Democrats have put forward in a generation. He's astute, intelligent, holds many core progressive values, and he hasn't been around Washington long enough to have been truly corrupted. While past Democratic nominees have been too corrupt for me to hold my nose and vote for, Obama has no such issues for me.
Obama isn't perfect: his late reversals on offshore drilling and on the Bush Administration's illegal wiretaps bothered me. And I don't put too much faith in the office of the President to change things. One high-stakes winner-take-all election every four years isn't the right way to run a country. And our electoral system favors rural states and big money. Those are problems we'll have to overcome with grassroots action. Cynthia McKinney and Ralph Nader are fine candidates but for this election, America has a real chance to embrace positive change and send a message to Washington that the neoliberal economic policies of the past 30 years have failed, and that it's time for a new New Deal. Vote for Obama.
United States Representative; District 8
Cindy Sheehan
Nancy Pelosi is a disgrace. She "represents" the most progressive district in America, yet she continually votes for war and has taken impeachment off the table. She also voted to give Wall Street hundreds of billions in taxpayer money with few strings. Cindy Sheehan presents a clear, well-known alternative. It's time for Pelosi to go.
State Senator; District 3
Mark Leno
After a bruising and unnecessary primary challenge against Carole Migden, Leno has emerged as the candidate of choice for the local state senate seat. Leno is somewhat progressive, but often sides with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom on important issues...and that's often the wrong side. Still, Leno is by far the best choice in this race.
Member of the State Assembly; District 13
Tom Ammiano
Tom's the best choice here to take over Mark Leno's empty seat. He'll win easily, and he'll be a very good representative.
Superior Court Judge; San Francisco County; Seat 12
Gerardo Sandoval
Sandoval has been mercilessly targeted by regressive forces in San Francisco. He's been somewhat controversial on teh Board of Supervisors, but he's been a good progressive. And he's far better than Mellon.
Board Member; San Francisco Unified School District
Sandra Lee Fewer
Barbara Lopez
Norman Yee
A progressive slate for the nation's most progressive school board.
Board Member; San Francisco Community College District
NO ENDORSEMENT
City College of SF is a mess. Bond money is misspent, money is spent on athletics instead of academics, and the college refuses to comply with sunshine laws. Unfortunately, the candidates on the ballot won't change anything. I can't endorse any of them.
Board of Directors; San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District; District 9
Tom Radulovich
Tom is a strong progressive voice on the BART board. He's been a great transit advocate, and should get another term.
CA Ballot Propositions
San Francisco Country Ballot Measures
PRESIDENT
Barack Obama
For the first time in my adult life, I'll vote for the Democratic nominee for president. And I'll do it proudly, with no reservations. Barack Obama is the best candidate the Democrats have put forward in a generation. He's astute, intelligent, holds many core progressive values, and he hasn't been around Washington long enough to have been truly corrupted. While past Democratic nominees have been too corrupt for me to hold my nose and vote for, Obama has no such issues for me.
Obama isn't perfect: his late reversals on offshore drilling and on the Bush Administration's illegal wiretaps bothered me. And I don't put too much faith in the office of the President to change things. One high-stakes winner-take-all election every four years isn't the right way to run a country. And our electoral system favors rural states and big money. Those are problems we'll have to overcome with grassroots action. Cynthia McKinney and Ralph Nader are fine candidates but for this election, America has a real chance to embrace positive change and send a message to Washington that the neoliberal economic policies of the past 30 years have failed, and that it's time for a new New Deal. Vote for Obama.
United States Representative; District 8
Cindy Sheehan
Nancy Pelosi is a disgrace. She "represents" the most progressive district in America, yet she continually votes for war and has taken impeachment off the table. She also voted to give Wall Street hundreds of billions in taxpayer money with few strings. Cindy Sheehan presents a clear, well-known alternative. It's time for Pelosi to go.
State Senator; District 3
Mark Leno
After a bruising and unnecessary primary challenge against Carole Migden, Leno has emerged as the candidate of choice for the local state senate seat. Leno is somewhat progressive, but often sides with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom on important issues...and that's often the wrong side. Still, Leno is by far the best choice in this race.
Member of the State Assembly; District 13
Tom Ammiano
Tom's the best choice here to take over Mark Leno's empty seat. He'll win easily, and he'll be a very good representative.
Superior Court Judge; San Francisco County; Seat 12
Gerardo Sandoval
Sandoval has been mercilessly targeted by regressive forces in San Francisco. He's been somewhat controversial on teh Board of Supervisors, but he's been a good progressive. And he's far better than Mellon.
Board Member; San Francisco Unified School District
Sandra Lee Fewer
Barbara Lopez
Norman Yee
A progressive slate for the nation's most progressive school board.
Board Member; San Francisco Community College District
NO ENDORSEMENT
City College of SF is a mess. Bond money is misspent, money is spent on athletics instead of academics, and the college refuses to comply with sunshine laws. Unfortunately, the candidates on the ballot won't change anything. I can't endorse any of them.
Board of Directors; San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District; District 9
Tom Radulovich
Tom is a strong progressive voice on the BART board. He's been a great transit advocate, and should get another term.
CA Ballot Propositions
- 1A: High Speed Passenger Train Bonds
YES
It's time to modernize California's transportation system. Air travel wastes a tremendous amount of energy for short trips, and a rail infrastructure would create thousands of jobs in our state. - 2: Standards for Confining Farm Animals
- 3: Children's Hospital Bond Act. Grant Program
- 4: Waiting Period and Parental Notification Before Termination of Minor's Pregnancy
- 5: Nonviolent Drug Offenses, Sentencing, Parole and Rehabilitation
YES
Expand treatment and rehabilitation for drug offenses, and reduce expenditures? Absolutely. - 6: Police and Law Enforcement Funding. Criminal Penalties and Laws
- 7: Pickens' Personal Renewable Plan
NO
T Boone Pickens is not a force for good in our nation. He speculated in Oil, funded Repugnican politicians for generations, and he funded the Swift Boaters in 2004. Now he's dumped a lot of his money into natural gas and wind, and he wants your vote to ensure that he makes a profit. Proposition 7 would divert funding and mandates away from other more viable renewable energy sources towards Pickens' own investments. Vote NO! - 8: Bigoted Discrimination in Marriage
NO NO NO!
California stepped past its bigoted history this year when the state Supreme Court voided the Knight initiative banning gay marriage on constitutional grounds. Now the bigots are back with a constitutional ammendment designed to re-implement discrimination in marriage. This initiative is poisonous and divisive. Let's keep the fundamentalist churches out of our personal lives. Vote NO! - 9: Draconian Sentencing
NO NO NO!
The law-and-order crowd managed to get two props on this ballot. Le't just say no to the reactionaries and reject this one too. - 10: Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Renewable Energy. Bonds
NO
Bonds are a terrible way to finance things. You get less than half the money you borrow, and the profits and fees go to the richest people in America. We need to tax the rich to get the funds we need. And the proceeds for this one are questionable too. Vote NO. - 11: Redistricting
- 12: Veteran's Bond Act of 2008
NO
Again, bonds are bad. Though it's a laudable goal to spend money on veterans, bond financing is the wrong way to do it.
YES
California is a pioneer for many things, and it's time to add treatment of farm animals to that list. Opponents have trotted out the tired old argument that this measure will make California farms less competitive, but that hasn't held water on anything else. In fact, changes in California law often lead national thinking. Vote yes.
YES
I generally hate bonds, but this outlay is worthwhile.
NO NO NO!
Anti-choice zealots try this every election cycle. Their goal is to slowly eat away at womens' right to choose. Vote NO!
NO NO NO!
The "tough-on-crime" water carriers for cop unions are pandering for bigger budgets again. It's time to put a stop to draconian law enforcement measures.
No
I'm of a couple minds on redistricting. The best way to make elections more competitive is to implement ranked choice voting and multi-seat districts with proportional representation. Redistricting, whether it's in the hands of politicians or judges, will always be subjective and prone to partisan bias. Vote no.
San Francisco Country Ballot Measures
- A: General Hospital and Trauma Center Earthquake Safety Bonds
YES
SF General is the last bastion of public health in the city, and is the cornerstone of the Healthy SF plan. Vote Yes. - B: Affordable Housing Fund
YES YES YES
San Francisco's number one problem is housing. Vote Yes. - C: Prohibiting City Employees from Serving on Charter Boards and Commissions
Yes A good-government reform that may keep mayoral cronies and patrons from influencing commission decisions. - D: Pier 70 Waterfront District Development Plan
NO
I'm disinclined to approve a waterfront plan that includes too much commercial development. And when this measure is pushed by the anti-progressives like Alioto-Pier, that poisons it for me. Vote NO. - E: Changing the Number of Signatures Required to Recall City Officials
YES
The failed recall of Supervisor McGoldrick was ridiculous, and now is the time to change this law. A 10% threshold is ridiculously low. - F: Holding All Scheduled City Elections Only in Even- Numbered Years
NO
The odd-numbered years provide a good forum to focus on city elections. We never would have had Gonzalez-v-Newsom in an even-numbered year. Vote No. - G: Allowing Retirement System Credit for Unpaid Parental Leave
YES This one boils down to common sense. - H: Clean Energy Deadlines
YES YES YES
It's time to drag PG&E into the 21st century. They may kick and scream about generating energy via renewable means, but that's just too bad. Vote YES! - I: Office of an Independent Rate Payer Advocate
- J: Historic Preservation Commission
NO
Not another commission.... - K: Enforcement of Laws Related to Prostitution
YES
I'm a bit torn. But in general I favor decriminalizing prostitution. Vote Yes. - L: Community Justice Center
NO NO NO
A meaningless feel-good waste of taxpayer dollars for Newsom's pet program. Vote No. - M: Residential Rent Ordinance
YES
Prohibits landlords from harassing tenants. - N: Real Property Transfer Tax Rates
- O: Replacing the Emergency Response Fee
YES
This makes the 911 tax a bit fairer. Vote Yes. - P: County Transportation Authority Board
NO NO NO
A blatant power grab by Newsom's minions to control MUNI. Vote No! - Q: Payroll Expense Tax
YES
The payroll tax has been an impediment to job creation in San Francisco. This is a chance to reform it a bit. Vote Yes. - R: Renaming the Oceanside Water Treatment Plant
YES YES YES
This is the type of ballot measure that reminds me of the many reasons I love this city. What better tribute to 8 years of Bush Administration ineptitude, corruption, and malice toward liberty than to name our sewage treatment plant after George W. Bush? Vote yes! - S: Budget Set-Asides and Identification of Replacement Funds
NO
A budget play by anti-progressive forces. Vote NO. - T: Low-Cost Substance Abuse Treatment Programs
- U: Policy Against Funding the Deployment of Armed Forces in Iraq
YES YES YES!
This is another chance to express our city's dismay at the illegal and immoral war on Iraq. Vote Yes! - V: JROTC
NO NO NO!
JROTC is a military recruitment and war propaganda tool right in the midst of our high schools. This past year the Board of Education voted to eliminate funding for it. Let's allow our high school students to mature on their own, then make a decision as to whether a military career is for them. Vote NO!
NO
This one is PG&E's canard to draw attention away from measure H. Vote NO!
YES
Disclosure: I'm potentially subject to this tax. And I support it. The city needs money, and real estate speculators have gotten away with not paying their fair share for years. Vote Yes.
YES
One of the key gaps in city services in recent years.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Visiting Sirhan Sirhan
There are just some things I can't quite explain. This is one of them. Congresscritter Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) was already a bit loony. He frequently claims to have ties to the CIA, and is a rabid right-wingnut. But this takes the cake...Rohrabacher apparently dressed in drag while visiting Sirhan Sirhan in Corcoran State Prison. He's pretty keen on solving what he believes is a conspiracy:
According to a September 25, 2008, Pasadena Weekly article by Carl Kozlowski, Rohrabacher believes that the Los Angeles Police Department has for 40 years hidden the fact that Sirhan Sirhan, the lone man convicted of shooting Kennedy, worked as part of a "real conspiracy" of Arabs.
Why? Well, Rohrabacher--a rabid right-wing Republican who has bragged to me and other reporters about his, uh, longtime personal ties to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)--claims he was in the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles for a party at the same time Kennedy was murdered in the kitchen.
I'm almost speechless.
According to a September 25, 2008, Pasadena Weekly article by Carl Kozlowski, Rohrabacher believes that the Los Angeles Police Department has for 40 years hidden the fact that Sirhan Sirhan, the lone man convicted of shooting Kennedy, worked as part of a "real conspiracy" of Arabs.
Why? Well, Rohrabacher--a rabid right-wing Republican who has bragged to me and other reporters about his, uh, longtime personal ties to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)--claims he was in the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles for a party at the same time Kennedy was murdered in the kitchen.
I'm almost speechless.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Hoo-Sain
I've been meaning to blog this, but Joe P sent me an example of the finest salt-of-the-earth folks humanity has to offer:
She got a real purty mouth, ain't she?
She got a real purty mouth, ain't she?
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Congress Shows its True Stripes?
There's apparently a deal afoot on the Wall Street bailout. Details are still a little fuzzy, but after reading this article several times I still see no mention of limiting executive pay. That was to have been the holy grail of this deal - keeping the very miscreants who created this mess from benefiting financially. And the Democrats seem to have sold us out on that.
UPDATE: 7:05 PM PST:
Details are still sketchy, but it appears that Congress included some limits on executive bonuses. Let's hope it's true...but I'm skeptical until I see the details.
UPDATE: 7:05 PM PST:
Details are still sketchy, but it appears that Congress included some limits on executive bonuses. Let's hope it's true...but I'm skeptical until I see the details.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Troopergate Begins...
Several of Sarah Palin's top aides defied subpoeanas to testify today at a legislative hearing into her firing of a state Public Safety Commissioner who refused to fire Palin's former brother-in-law:
Palin fired Walt Monegan, the public safety commissioner, in July. He claims he was fired for refusing to fire a state trooper who had gone through a nasty divorce from Palin's sister.
He claims he was pressured by Palin, her husband and members of her staff to fire the trooper.
Ah, but this is the excuse-heavy God-Obsessed-Party we're dealing with, so they have a ready-made answer:
Palin denies the charge, and says he was dismissed over budget disagreements.
Palin claims that the Commissioner travelled to Washington DC without authorization. Just one problem with that, Sarah...it's a lie.
When will people stop believing these prevaricators?
Palin fired Walt Monegan, the public safety commissioner, in July. He claims he was fired for refusing to fire a state trooper who had gone through a nasty divorce from Palin's sister.
He claims he was pressured by Palin, her husband and members of her staff to fire the trooper.
Ah, but this is the excuse-heavy God-Obsessed-Party we're dealing with, so they have a ready-made answer:
Palin denies the charge, and says he was dismissed over budget disagreements.
Palin claims that the Commissioner travelled to Washington DC without authorization. Just one problem with that, Sarah...it's a lie.
When will people stop believing these prevaricators?
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Trust Your Congresscritter?
Representative Spencer Bachus (R-Alabama) is an important man. He's the top Republican on the House Financial Services Comittee and, apparently, he's very good at timing the markets:
In a single transaction on Dec. 10, Rep. Spencer Bachus of Alabama made up to $15,000 off an investment he had held for just two weeks, according to his congressional financial disclosure statement. He sold on the same day that the company, Focus Media Holding Ltd., got a market bounce off its announcement that it would acquire a competitor.
The trade was among dozens made in 2007 by the powerful congressman, whose public statements alone can influence markets. Most of his trades were short-term options in which Bachus bet that a stock price would rise or fall and made a quick profit or loss accordingly. Sometimes, he made several trades in the same week, supplementing his $165,200 annual congressional salary with up to $160,000 for the year.
So Bachus is trading puts & calls while "representing" the people of Alabama...and he made some suspicious trades, possibly with insider information. Should we chalk this up to bad personal decisions by a Washington insider? Or perhaps it's yet more evidence of the Republicans' ideology of corruption. You decide.
In a single transaction on Dec. 10, Rep. Spencer Bachus of Alabama made up to $15,000 off an investment he had held for just two weeks, according to his congressional financial disclosure statement. He sold on the same day that the company, Focus Media Holding Ltd., got a market bounce off its announcement that it would acquire a competitor.
The trade was among dozens made in 2007 by the powerful congressman, whose public statements alone can influence markets. Most of his trades were short-term options in which Bachus bet that a stock price would rise or fall and made a quick profit or loss accordingly. Sometimes, he made several trades in the same week, supplementing his $165,200 annual congressional salary with up to $160,000 for the year.
So Bachus is trading puts & calls while "representing" the people of Alabama...and he made some suspicious trades, possibly with insider information. Should we chalk this up to bad personal decisions by a Washington insider? Or perhaps it's yet more evidence of the Republicans' ideology of corruption. You decide.
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