[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

“Cronyism” is one the charges made about virtually all elected officials. Unlike most work, political activity engenders opponents, those that would like you or your allies out of political office and replaced by themselves or their allies. To protect yourself from those opponents, politicians seek what others find in privacy in the company of people they trust. “Loyalty”, a political virtue, really means trustworthy under pressure.

So when picking subordinates or employees, those of us in the political world add “loyalty” to the list of attributes we look for – along with skills, intelligence, judgment that everyone looks for in employees.

Because “loyalty” is reciprocal, the subordinate has more job security than do employees in more normal work. And, because of this fact, “loyal” employees in politics can get away with egregious behavior at times.

Such appears to be the case in Oakland.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

Well, now we have it: the solution to California’s budget deadlock as provided by an elite class of “bipartisan” gurus lead by former Clinton Chief of Staff Leon Panetta.

Editorial approbation will soon follow. Then, when the advice of this group of elders falls upon deaf ears and a harsh, partisan budget fight ensues, the proposals will serve their true purpose: a big stick with which the press corps can use to beat our elected officials about the head to lay the groundwork for yet another ballot measure solution.

What are the proposals and why are they silly? Let’s take them one by one.

(1) Out of control costs”. We must, says Panetta, “make sure the state doesn’t commit programs it can’t support”. Like tougher prison sentences? Of course, when a ballot measure was presented to voters just a couple of years ago to save money by reducing prison time (and expense), it was rejected decisively by voters. So the tough sentences remain, as do the costs – soon to be paid for by taxpayers at the insistence of Federal Judges.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

Legislative Republicans killed another effort to extend voting rights to young people yesterday. Legislation that would have allowed young people to “pre-register” in high school if they would hit 18 years of age by the following election received no Republican votes in the Assembly (again).

Republican opponents derided the measure as favoring Democrats because, “young people are liberal”, becoming conservative with time and experience.

Now whether that is true or not, one would have to give credit to the Republicans for defending the interests of their party in the face of MSM (Main Stream Media) coverage that is critical in nature. Republicans have never pulled punches about playing by Marquis of Queensberry rules in politics. Republican politicians believe in the ideology of their party, and have shown a willingness to bend rules and fight “bare knuckled” to further that ideology.

Progressive Democrats, however, seem overly affected by traces of Marxist historicism most of the time. The truth will out, justice will prevail, history is on our side. The sad truth is that none of that is true. Progressive victories will only occur by beating Republicans. In that context, we need not accept handicaps.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

In 2004 I ran the campaign for Patti Davis against Incumbent Shirley Horton in AD 78 – a San Diego seat running from Chula Vista to the northern neighborhoods of the City of San Diego. We lost by about 1200 votes with registration at 41% Democratic and 35% Republican. Maxine Sherard lost by about 5000 votes with similar registration in 2006.

Today registration in the 78th is 42.5% Democratic to 32% Republican – before any registration effort for November is made. That difference – a four point spread – translates into about 7000 net votes: the Republican loses 4000 and the Democrat picks up 3000. With those numbers both Davis and Sherard would have won their elections. After a voter registration drive, the Democratic nominee in AD 78 should win easily this November.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

So Hillary Clinton has one of the worst favorable/unfavorable ratios seen in politics (46-51) - - and she beats John McCain in a poll match-up by 12 points here in California according to the PPIC poll released today.

Wow!

I heard Adam Mendelsohn bravely try and spin things the Republican way at a panel the other evening. But when you’re down 54-37 to Obama, you can spin all you want.

Here is the un-spinned (unspun?) truth. Voters aren’t paying attention to the minor differences between the two Democratic candidates. They aren’t paying attention to the media narratives. They are indifferent to the demographic composition of each candidate’s entourage.

Voters see a Republican administration which has shamelessly followed economic policies favoring the rich and powerful at the expense of the rest of us.

A Republican administration which has consciously violated laws passed to protect our environment and our endangered species.

A Republican administration whose policies have allowed oil companies the ability to charge ruinous rates for gasoline to rack up record profits.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Governor Schwarzenegger's decision to cut the budget across the board(regardless of priority) has consequences -- for some, more seriousthan most. The Sacramento Bee reports that many patients in California Children's Services will face delays in care for serious chronic diseases.

Domestic spying ison the rise, but not terrorism prosecutions. The LA Times reports thatlately law enforcement has increased surveillance of individualsthrough wiretapping and financial records, while terrorism casesbrought to trial dropped 19 percent last year.

Republican election officials are trying to require "proof of citizenship" at the polls. Bill Cavala has the details at the California Progress Report.

There's more...

Image courtesy Sacbee.com

by Robert in Monterey [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]