Whistleblower hotline: (213) 785-6098
mayorsam@mayorsam.org

Monday, September 22, 2008

Hotsheet for the Autumn Equinox

“If this governor makes us go to the mat, are we ready to go to the mat and to kick his ass?”

I must hand it to Governor Schwarzenegger. He held out for a better budget and got one that adds teeth to the creation of a rainy day fund. The latest, and presumably final, incarnation of the FY'08–09 budget passed without debate on Friday, and is expected to be signed by Schwarzenegger early this week. Perhaps now that the governor is willing again to flex his muscles, he’ll take another stab at battling the union bosses and deliver on two of his original promises: a spending cap, and redistricting.

Speaking of which, prison guards union boss Mike Jimenez (pictured above) led a raucous rally last week, denouncing Schwarzenegger and promising to make good on his recall threat. Schwarzenegger’s crime?

After more than two years without a contract…

Earning annual salaries of “up to $73,000 plus overtime that routinely vaults them into six figures,”

…the guards have watched helplessly as the governor has taken away treasured work rules they had won. Last year, Schwarzenegger rescinded their rights to call in sick without question and to veto many operational decisions inside prisons, which he has characterized as piggish and abusive.

I tuned in to an interview with Assemblyman Mike Villines on Friday, during which, he quoted former Governor Jerry Brown as admitting that his worst mistake as governor was instituting collective bargaining for government workers.

By jumping on the Proposition 8 bandwagon, California Republican leaders seem hell bent on solidifying the party’s minority status. No one is more eager to capitalize on this — and, in the process, strengthen his resume to compete with Gavin Newsom — than Mayor Villaraigosa, who participated in the opening of Los Angeles’ No on Prop 8 headquarters last Saturday. An item in the New York Times analyzes a conundrum facing supporters of both Barack Obama and marriage equality this November: what to do about those “traditionally conservative” black and Latino voters who will likely turn out in record numbers for Obama, only to vote for the constitutional marriage ban?

The Obama/Proposition 8 situation appeals to those opposed to same-sex marriage, who are banking on a high turnout by blacks and conservative Latinos. There’s no question African-American and Latino voters are among our strongest supporters,” said Frank Schubert, the co-campaign manager for Yes on 8, the leading group behind the measure. “And to the extent that they are motivated to get to the polls, whether by this issue or by Barack Obama, it helps us.”

Don’t look now, but summer ends today. It’s gonna be a long, interesting autumn.

Labels: , , , , , ,

16 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Ever notice how old ladies and cholas paint clown like eyebrows on their foreheads?

What's this guy's excuse?

September 22, 2008 11:00 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

What does this have to do with Sarah Palin's good looks and sex appeal. I want more of Sarah Palin she is hot, hot, hot, hot !!!!

September 22, 2008 11:47 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

thats not the only conundrum for obama supporters. how bout the little problem that obama himself opposes gay marriage??? hmm??? stick that in your pipe, new york slimes.

September 22, 2008 11:51 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Wrong, 11:51. Obama supports same-sex marriage, but if he admits it, he'll lose. So instead, he lies and says he opposes it. Boy, I'm sure glad Democrats nominated a man of conviction.

September 22, 2008 12:11 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

I think that Obama's religion doesn't support gay marriage and so he himself, doesn't "support" it, but he understands that his religion is not the be-all, end-all nor are his feelings compatible with the way the entire nation feels about gay marriage so he supports allowing each state to decide and let its voters vote.

September 22, 2008 12:27 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

12:27, you may be right but this issue doesn't work on a state by state basis.

Hell, even abortion works better than marriage state by state.

We can't have married couples moving across state lines and losing all of their benefits. Obama needs to take a real stand one way or the other, not pass the buck.

September 22, 2008 12:44 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

screw these cry babies-if they don't like the job there are plenty of people out there that need a job!

September 22, 2008 1:23 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

PBS is running an online poll that asks the question whether or not Sarah Palin is qualified to be VP.

Given that there are few qualfications needed to hold this do-nothing job, you would think that the yeses would be running away with the vote.

Right now it's only 51% yes.

The real question should be whether or not she's qualified to be president.

To vote:

http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html

September 22, 2008 1:35 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

I thought the topic was eyebrows

September 22, 2008 1:44 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Has PBS run an online poll asking whether or not Barack Obama is qualified to be President? Just curious...

September 22, 2008 1:47 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Yes this dude needs to go easy on the tweezers ,

What a f--king slob. Union bosses are all the same. Loudmouth pigs.

September 22, 2008 1:50 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

It's getting a little boring hearing each presidental campaign charge that the other has some shady people as advisers.

Look, just about anybody with an opinion can be an adviser. Big deal!

But it becomes a bigger problem when it is revealed that McCain's campaign manager was paid $30,000 a month for 5 years to stop Congress from over-regulating Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

This probably won't be the last that we hear about the friends that McCain has surrounded himself with. We already know many of the top lobbyists who occupy high positions in his campaign. We just don't know exactly what kind of evil they have been up to.

And are we to believe the McCain will turn his back on them once elected? Or will we see the new generation of Karl Roves and Dick Cheneys?

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/22/america/22mccain.php

September 22, 2008 1:59 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

It was the kind of mistake that you would expect from a senile John McCain, a just plain dumb George Bush, or a stoned rock star, but now Sarah Palin!

At a campaign stop in Iowa, Palin spoke first.

"Thank you so much, Iowa. It's great to be here in Grand Rapids," Palin said as she took the stage.

The crowd, knowing they weren't in Michigan, shouted back, "CEDAR Rapids!"

Maybe should orient herself with the lower 48 states before speaking about international affairs.

This article from the Guardian goes on to note the other gaffes and problems with the McCain campaign.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/21/uselections2008.barackobama

September 22, 2008 2:17 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Wall Street Journal wonders just how much McCain now regrets his position that Social Security be privatized.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122204378523361477.html

September 22, 2008 2:36 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

I hate the dumb ass demorats always trying to smear Sarah Palin, we all know she is the best person to run the country hands down, Palin is my babe for president !!!!!

September 22, 2008 8:55 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S ALOT OF SEX CRAZED PALINIT'S SHE TOLD ME SHE WANTS YOUR BOD'S YOU CAN HAVE HER, AND LEAVE THE COUNTRY TO SOMEONE WHO INTERESTED IN IMPROVING THIS COUNTRY.

September 24, 2008 2:21 PM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home

Advertisement

Advertisement