by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Her politics are personal and rooted in her work as a community organizer

By Frank D. Russo

You had to be there. In fact, you can be there by watching the standing ovations and laudatory remarks by Democrats and Republicans—and a wonderful heartfelt speech by Karen Bass as she assumed the role of the second highest office in the state of California—the Speakership of the California State Assembly. This was a day that history was made as the first African-American woman to lead a state legislative body in the United States took over the helm.

Karen Bass has a lot of new friends as a result of being Speaker. Governor Schwarzenegger was on hand to witness the ceremony and sat on the dais along with five former Speakers of the Assembly, state constitutional officers, and even the President pro Tem of the Oregon Senate. After saying he would miss Fabian Nunez, who had just joined a “fraternity” of former speakers—one day to expand to be a sorority also--said wonderful things about her. So did Mike Villines, the Assembly Republican leader—who thanked Nunez for the collegial style in which the house had been run and then spoke of the Assembly and Bass in terms of friendships.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

My first boss in the Legislature was Budget Chair under Speaker Unruh, and his particular interest was in the State’s program for crippled children.

When Ronald Reagan ended 8 years of Pat Brown in 1966, that program was gutted to save money. Dozens of kids died for lack of care. Thousands more were beset with the emotional problems that occur when teased by their peers for the inability to speak with a cleft palate. I learned of their situations individually, by answering letters from anguished parents for my boss.

It showed me that there was a difference between Democrats and Republicans. A difference worth fighting for.

And, it demonstrated to my satisfaction that, when you lost, a lot of people paid the consequences.

So when I read the tepid arguments of due process Democrats who would sacrifice the election advantages provided by partisan redistricting in the name of “fairness” or “due process”, I feel disgust. Such people view politics as a game where the outcomes matter less than ‘how the game is played’. Matter less to themselves, I’m sure. But not to those whose lives – or quality of life – is directly dependent on political outcomes.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

If California voters don't like having the third highest unemployment rate in the country, endless war, nonsense issues at the forefront of the presidential discourse, an outrageous attempt to abolish rent control, and an unfortunate lack of universal health care due in large part to Repubublican obstructionism, they can show the pundits they are motivated by voting during this June 3rd's Assembly, Senate, Congressional, and local races primary.

Courtesy the Secretary of State Debra Bowen's Office:

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

You gotta be kidding me. <> <>Here's script of a new ad from Senator Jeff Denham entitled: "Just Plain Wrong":<> <>"When a public official is guilty of malfeasance or criminal conduct in office, the California Constitution provides for the right to recall. But no such accusations have been made against Senator Jeff Denham.  His only crime? Refusing to vote for a budget he said was billions out of balance -- and he was right. And that's why Senate Leader Don Perata's vindictive recall campaign against Senator Denham has been so widely condemned by throughout the district by elected Democrats and Republicans alike."<> <>Huh?<> <>Where was the hue and cry for the Davis recall? What was the "malfeasance or criminal conduct" then?

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Democrats and Republicans Should Put Cards on the Table

Blaming the Legislature (Or the Governor) Helps No One

By Frank D. Russo

I am in a curmudgeonly mood this morning as I read charges and countercharges over the state budget. I fear we are going through the movie “Groundhog Day” again on the California state budget—what Governor Schwarzenegger likes to call a Kabuki dance.

There is a real disconnect here. And it’s not the kind that needs a constitutional amendment on spending or other distractions.

Here’s the problem. The Governor is jetting about to all sorts of staged events—he calls some of them townhall meetings—and appears before local Chambers of Commerce and the like. Throw in a few chats with the local newspaper editorial board. Avoid large crowds of ordinary Californians who you can’t control—and by all means don’t show up at community events where parents, teachers, school administrators, and ordinary citizens are talking about school budget cuts.