[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

The self-appointed "consumers" at the organization formerly known as the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights are at it again, attacking elected officials for their disclosure of their legitimate campaign expenses -- while they don't reveal any information about who funds them or where their funding goes.
 
The Los Angeles Times today features an article on a Fair Political Practices Commission voted yesterday to provide the public with more information on the details of a governmental, political, or legislative expense paid for with campaign contributions (not taxpayer money) with the usual rant from ConsumerWatchdog's flack, who has the most inappropriate of titles, "Director of Accountability."
 
Maybe she should look in the mirror and let the public know who pays its bills. How novel.

by DFA Staff [courtesy of Blog for America]

The Los Angeles Times reports on the resurgent Taliban and the coming increase in violence:

"We have heard all about these Americans, and we are waiting -- let them come," said a Taliban field commander, reached by phone in the Panjwai district outside Kandahar. "They will learn what others before them have learned."

The insurgents boast that they will blend tried-and-true methods with deadly refinements. Beaten badly in previous large-scale frontal assaults on NATO-led troops, Taliban fighters vow to harry them with more powerful and sophisticated roadside bombs, unrelenting suicide attacks and methodical targeting of Afghans who are helping the coalition forces.

Danny
Communications Director

by DFA Staff [courtesy of Blog for America]

The Los Angeles Times reports on the growing power of the anti-choice movement in Spain and Italy:

In Italy and Spain, two of Europe's most predominantly Roman Catholic countries, opponents of abortion are finding new ways to challenge laws and use the issue to influence national elections, a generation after most citizens thought the issue was resolved.

Spurred on by the church, antiabortion activists have staged demonstrations and circulated petitions, gathering thousands of names. On the other side of the debate, thousands of women have turned out in demonstrations to demand that laws allowing the termination of pregnancy be protected.

Danny
Communications Director

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

There’s a four-way race underway to determine who will succeed Speaker Núñez to represent the 46th Assembly District in Los Angeles. Ricardo Lara kicked off his campaign today by rolling out some major endorsements from the Speaker and Mónica García, President of the Los Angeles Unified School Board.
 
Ricardo is a product of the 46th District, having attended Stevenson Middle School before graduating from Garfield High School in 1993. After graduating from Cal State San Diego, he has had stints serving then-State Senator Nell Soto, Asemblymember Marco Firebaugh as chief of staff and most recently as district director for Núñez.
 
As the Los Angeles Times reported earlier, this race is going get interesting.
 
The official press release is after the jump.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

While they weren't quite busting out the kumbaya,last night Democratic debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obamawas remarkably civil, especially compared to last week's jabs in SouthCarolina and the acrimony on the campaign trail. Hillary even said theywere having a "wonderful time," according to the San FranciscoChronicle.

With new polls showing Obama within striking distance of Clinton in California,making inroads among the Latino community, which is very fond ofHillary, could be critical, the San Jose Mercury News reports. If thisgroup breaks for Hillary as much as it did in Nevada, it may be toughto overcome.

On the issue of the war in Iraq, the distinction between Obama and Clinton was largely cast as "judgment" versus "gravitas" last night, with the Hillary citing the latter as her greateststrength, the Los Angeles Times reports. This also gave an opening forone of the biggest jabs of the night—Obama saying it's more importantto be right than ready from day one.

There's more...

Photo courtesy of coppet.com

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Here is the latest TV spot for the Yes on Proposition 93 campaign.

The spot highlights several of our latest endorsements, including the Los Angeles Times and Common Cause. Also featured is Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger telling viewers that he supports Proposition 93.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Proposition 93, the term limits reform initiative, today snared the coveted endorsement of The Los Angeles Times, the state's largest newspaper.

"The Times urges voters to reject the childish world of politics and to engage instead in the grown-up business of governing," said the editorial.