[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

James Sweeney of the San Diego Union has a story in today’s paper to the effect that the Sycuan Band of El Cajon has failed to ratify it’s controversial new compact – costing the state $18 million dollars in lost revenue.

The failure of the Tribe to ratify gave the Governor the option of declaring the compact null and void. Had he done so, the state might have fared better. The BEE quotes the Governor’s spokesman as saying he didn’t void the compact because it was “good for the tribe and good for the state”.

This month, the Governor agreed to extend the deadline for the tribe’s OK until the first of next year.

The hitch in negotiations finalizing the compact are secret.

Now is this the same group of Casino-owning Native Americans that patriotically contributed $45,000 this month to the Governor’s redistricting initiative? The Sweeney story fails to mention that fact.

That was the same contribution justified by Kathay Feng of Common Cause who noted that many groups supported redistricting ‘reform’ because they opposed gridlock in the Capitol.

I see.

[courtesy of Blog for America]

George Lakoff is a linguistics professor at UC Berkeley and author of numerous books on metaphors, framing and politics.  Howard Dean has called him,  "one of the most influential political thinkers of the progressive movement."    George was at our local bookstore talking about his latest book, The Political Mind.  During the question and answer period,  I asked him if he personally feels that Conservative Values have Failed and if so, how have they failed?

Failed Conservative Values: George Lakoff on It's Not Working

George: Yes Ed.

Edwin: I'm doing some work on the Failure of Conservative Values and I was wondering if you personally feel  that conservative values have failed and if so, how have they failed?

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

When a politician tanks with voters there is a flurry of comments about putting principle above polls, staying the course, and other such hackneyed sayings.

Don’t believe them. No politician does.

Because voters do matter in elections, politicians whose actions have led them out of favor with the public (they had to be ‘in favor’ to be elected) feel dirty. Just as winning is approbation, losing is condemnation. And no matter how much ranting about the ignorant electorate you do, you can’t enjoy the benefit of popularity if it was the result of ignorance.

For a President, our most visible politician, the fall is from a great height. In the wake of 9/11, George Bush III had approval ratings of 74%. But fame is fleeting. Today, 69% of the voters disapprove of the job he’s doing.

It’s time to circle the wagons.

With five months until Bush is replaced, it will be interesting to see whether McCain remains in the circled wagons – or joins the rest of us.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Robert Cruickshank

When I was an undergrad at Berkeley in the late '90s we paid around $4400 in "student fees." It was higher than it should have been given the cost of living at the time, but the state of California had held UC costs at a fixed level from 1995 to 2001.

Of course, during the 1960s the state and the UC system actually held to the promises of the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education, which included a promise to never charge students for the cost of instruction. In the 1960s when state treasurer Bill Lockyer attended UC Berkeley his total cost - for all 4 years - would have been $880. Figuring inflation and that's $5,808 in 2007 dollars.

That's going to be less than the per-year charge under a new UC fee increase plan being floated:

“UC tuition will rise $490 to $7,126 plus campus fees, which average $881 this year. The tuition would reach $8,180 if raised to the 10 percent total.

“Hume said students at UC's nine undergraduate campuses can expect a more difficult time registering for some classes, larger class sizes, and cuts in student services.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

Ironic is the only term to use if Barack Obama squeaks out a win in Pennsylvania with the help of the “gun lobby”.

While both Obama and Clinton are firm advocates of state gun control laws, there are differences of nuance in their stands. Obama voted against the use of federal funds to collect firearms in the wake of the Katrina catastrophe. More importantly, while calling for gun regulation, Obama has also expressed his view that there is an “individual right to bear arms”.

The phrase, “individual right” puts Obama with the gunners in the case against the Washington, DC gun ban now pending before the US Supreme Court.. Most voters won’t pick up on this fact – but the gunners will.

As Obama creeps up on Clinton in the Pennsylvania polls, it must be tempting for the gun lobby. A late endorsement for Obama could not only help him win, it would also give them the credit for an Obama win and Clinton loss.

Such a victory would immeasurably increase the flagging prestige of the gunners in the National Capitol.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

Last year the state GOP’s chief operations officer resigned under fire after media reports revealed he had sued federal officials who jailed him in 2004 for alleged visa violations and attempted to deport him.

The SF Chronicle reported this week that Michael Kamburowski, an Australian citizen had “no valid visa or work permit – and no legal right to stay in the United States.” Uh, oh…

Embarassing as that was, Kamburowski is the gift that just keeps on giving to the Republicans. It seems that Kamburowski hired ANOTHER ALIEN, this one a Canadian. GOP staffer Christopher Matthews – on the San Diego Republican Party payroll – also served as deputy political director for the California Republican Party.

In each case, Matthews had a visa. But, “citizens of other countries who work here on nonimmigrant visas can only use one kind at a time and only work for the employer who petitioned them”.

Yet another Republican foreign worker targeted by immigration officials.

The California GOP obviously needs a “guest worker” program.

Or some common sense.

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]