Posts Tagged ‘Sacramento’
Why are Democrats resorting wedge issues?
Liberals are always accusing Republicans of promoting divisiveness and campaigning on wedge issues. But this election cycle it is Democrats appear to be doing the dividing and fear mongering; two Sacramento area Democrats in particular.
Assemblyman Dave Jones who is a candidate for insurance commissioner and Dr. Richard Pan have chosen to inject the controversial issue of abortion into the heart of their campaigns. One has to wonder why they have chosen to focus on an issue that has consistently ranked outside the top five issues concerning voters, especially during these trying economic times.
In this campaign speech, Asm. Jones is talking about how he plans to use the office of insurance commissioner to fight for government funding of abortions, an item that was so controversial it was removed from the national health care bill.
Dr. Pan has purchased millions on TV, radio and mail to emphasize the fact that his opponent, Andy Pugno is pro-life. This commercial is just one small example of how Pan is attacking his opponent on the issue of abortion.
So, one has to wonder why these Democrats are so focused on such a divisive issue that voters seem less concerned about than job creation and the economy? I believe it’s because they know that they are on the wrong side of the issues that voters are truly concerned about.
Voters don’t want higher taxes. Both Jones and Pan support higher taxes on Californian’s. Voters want to see government spending reduced. Both Jones and Pan support increased government spending. Voters want to see stranglehold that public employees have on our elected officials ended. Meanwhile, both Jones and Pan are running campaigns that are largely funded by these very same unions.
Dave Jones and Richard Pan are hoping that voters won’t recognize the fact that their campaigns do not speak to the issues Californians are really concerned about. This is because democrats cannot win on the issues. They can only win by demonizing Republicans.
Democrat consultants know that were they to campaign on the Stimulus Bill, Obama Care or tax increases they would lose most swing voters and many of their supporters. So instead, they are focusing on wedge issues and demonization of Republicans. This just goes to show how desperate they really are.
Vote to Boycott Arizona Prompts Recall of Sacramento City Council Members
Schwarzenegger’s 2009 State of the State Address
Prepared Text of Governor Schwarzenegger’s 2009 State of the State Address
Lt. Governor Garamendi, Chief Justice George, President pro Tem Steinberg, Speaker Bass, Senate Republican Leader Cogdill, Assembly Republican Leader Villines, Members of the legislature, ladies and gentlemen, we meet in times of great hope for our nation.
Although we hear the drumbeat of news about bailouts, bankruptcies and Ponzi schemes, the nation with great anticipation is also awaiting the inauguration of a new president.
Our nation should be proud of what President-elect Obama’s election says to the world about American openness and renewal.
President Reagan used to tell about the letter he got from a man who said that you can go to live in Turkey, but you can’t become a Turk. You can go to live in Japan, but you cannot become Japanese. And he went through other countries.
“But,” the man said, “anyone from any corner of the world can come to America and become an American.”
And now, we know that any American child, no matter what corner of the world his father or mother comes from, can even become President of the United States.
What a wonderful national story for us.
This nation rightfully feels the hope of change.
Californians, of course, desire change here in their own state as well.
Yet they have doubts if that is possible.
For months, in the face of a crisis, we have been unable to reach agreement on the largest budget deficit in our history.
We are in our third special session and we’ve declared a fiscal emergency – and every day that goes by, makes the budget problem that much harder to solve.
As a result of all this, California, the eighth largest economy in the world, faces insolvency within weeks.
The legislature is currently in the midst of serious and good faith negotiations to resolve the crisis, negotiations that are being conducted in the knowledge we have no alternative but to find agreement.
The importance of the negotiation’s success goes far beyond the economic and human impact.
People are asking if California is governable.
They wonder about the need for a constitutional convention.
They don’t understand how we could have let political dysfunction paralyze our state for so long.
In recent years, they have seen more gridlock in Sacramento than on our roads, if such a thing is possible.
I will not give the traditional State of the State address today, because the reality is that our state is incapacitated until we resolve the budget crisis.
The truth is that California is in a state of emergency.
Addressing this emergency is the first and greatest thing we must do for the people.
The 42 billion dollar deficit is a rock upon our chest and we cannot breathe until we get it off.
It doesn’t make any sense to talk about education, infrastructure, water, health care reform and all these things when we have this huge budget deficit.
I will talk about my vision for all of these things… and more… as soon as we get the budget done.
So, no, I did not come today to deliver the normal list of accomplishments and proposals.
I came to encourage this body to continue the hard work you are doing behind closed doors.
There is a context and a history to the negotiations that are underway.
It is not that California is ungovernable. It’s that for too long we have been split by ideology.
Conan’s sword could not have cleaved our political system in two as cleanly as our own political parties have done.
Over time, ours has become a system where rigid ideology has been rewarded and pragmatic compromise has been punished.
And where has this led?
I think you would agree that in recent years California’s legislature has been engaged in civil war.
Meanwhile, the needs of the people became secondary.
Our citizens do not believe that we in government are in touch with their needs.
These needs are not unreasonable.
At the end of the day, most people do not require a great deal from their government.
They expect the fundamentals.
They want to live in safety.
They want a good education for their children.
They want jobs.
They want to breathe clean air.
They want water when they turn on the faucet and electricity when they turn on the switch.
And they want these things delivered efficiently and economically.
One of the reasonable expectations the public has of government is that it will produce a sound and balanced budget.
That is what the legislative leaders are struggling to do right now.
There is no course left open to us but this: to work together, to sacrifice together, to think of the common good – not our individual good.
No one wants to take money from our gang-fighting programs or from Medi-Cal or from education.
No one wants to pay more in taxes or fees.
But each of us has to give up something because our country is in an economic crisis and our state simply doesn’t have the money.
In December, we even had to suspend funding that affects 2,000 infrastructure projects that were already underway.
So, now, the bulldozers are silent.
The nail guns are still.
The cement trucks are parked.
This disruption has stopped work on levees, schools, roads, everything.
It has thrown thousands and thousands of people out of work at a time when our unemployment rate is rising.
How could we let something like that happen?
I know that everyone in this room wants to hear again the sound of construction.
No one wants unemployment checks replacing paychecks.
So, I am encouraged that meaningful negotiations are underway. And, as difficult as the budget will be, good things can come out of it.
Because, in spite of the budget crisis, when we have worked together in the past, we have passed measures that moved this state – and even the nation – forward.
When a budget agreement is reached, when some of the raw emotions have passed, I will send to the legislature the package of legislative goals and proposals that a governor traditionally sends.
These proposals are sitting on my desk. Let me tell you, I have big plans.
They include action on the economy, on water, environment, education, health care reform, government efficiency and reform, job creation.
But, our first order of business is to solve the budget crisis.
And I have an idea going forward.
As you know, in the last 20 years of budgeting, only four budgets have been on time.
So, if you don’t mind, let me make a little suggestion.
We should make a commitment that legislators – and the governor, too – lose per diem
expenses and our paychecks, for every day the budget goes past the constitutional deadline of June 15th.
You have to admit it is a brilliant idea.
I mean, if you call a taxi and the taxi doesn’t come, you don’t pay the driver.
If the people’s work is not getting done, the people’s representatives should not get paid either.
That is common sense in the real world.
And I will send you some other reforms, too.
Let me close by saying something about the fires of 2008.
At one point, I got a phone call that we had 875 wildfires burning all at the same time.
I said to myself, how do we deal with this?
The next morning I get a call, “Governor, there are now 2,014 fires burning all at the same time.”
The largest number on record.
Imagine, 2,000 fires, a huge challenge and every one of those fires was put out.
You know why? Because we have the best trained, the most selfless, the toughest firefighters in the nation.
Thirteen of whom lost their lives.
They gave their lives for this state.
Ladies and gentlemen, the courageous examples of those firefighters should not be lost on us.
In our own way, we, too, must show courage in serving the public.
Ladies and gentlemen, let this be a year of political courage.
Let us be courageous for the people.
Let us be courageous for the common good of California.
Let us resolve the budget crisis, so that we can get on with the people’s work.
Thank you.
JEFFRIES BILL TO END SECRET DEALS
Introduces ACA 8 to require public notice on all legislation Since coming to Sacramento in 2006, Assemblyman Jeffries has advocated for transparent government and an open legislative process. However, he has come to discover that this is not how the California Legislature conducts its business. “Last minute ‘gut and amends,’ asked to vote on measures minutes after receiving the bill, you name it; the things that are demanded of us defies all decorum of good government.” points out Jeffries, “if the public truly knew how things are run up here they would be outraged. Local governments have to comply with similar posting requirements in the Brown Act, why shouldn’t the Legislature?”
The most recent impetus for this measure comes out of the current budget crisis. During the special session to address the current budget crisis, Legislators were given bill language for numerous taxing and spending measures by the Assembly Speaker only a few hours before they were asked to cast a vote on them. “How can I be asked to vote on a bill that I haven’t had a chance to read?” asked Jeffries. “And how can my constituents participate and comment on the impacts a bill or tax will have on them and their families if even their elected representatives don’t have copies of the bill to review? A democratic society requires the ability for the people and their representatives to know what is happening to them before it is too late. There is absolutely no legislation so important that it can’t wait 72 hours for the people and the press and the legislators to properly review the text first, and I challenge anyone to argue otherwise.”
As a constitutional amendment, ACA 8 requires a two-thirds vote in both houses of the legislature and passage by a majority of California voters. “This amendment reinforces the bedrock principles of the First Amendment and public participation in our government, and I am confident that if the people of this state have the opportunity to vote for this measure, it will pass overwhelmingly. Frankly, I can’t even imagine an intelligent opposition campaign being waged on this issue,” said the Assemblyman. “The only motive for not passing this legislation is to keep the people in the dark.”
Huber and Buchanan duck for cover during budget battle
Less than a month into the new session, Sacramento’s two newest Democrat electeds have refused to take a stand in the most important issue facing the legislature in years.
I don’t often agree with the Sacramento Bee. But they hit it on the nose when they exposed these two.
On Tuesday, five Assembly Democrats abstained from votes on tax hikes: Alyson Huber of El Dorado Hills, Joan Buchanan of Alamo, Manuel Perez of Coachella, Marty Block of San Diego and Charles Calderon of Whittier. Huber and Calderon also abstained from votes on spending cuts. On Thursday, Huber and Buchanan abstained again on tax hikes.
Huber’s abstentions are especially disappointing. This page endorsed her to tepresent District 10, which includes Lodi, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Stockton and Jackson. She campaigned as a “problem solver” who would “hit the ground running.” A news release on her swearing-in said: “Deeply concerned with the state’s financial crisis, Assemblymember Huber is prepared to immediately start working toward a solution.” Instead, Huber seems to have hit the ground looking for cover.
Voters don’t elect legislators to be neutral on the most important issues facing the state. And if legislators don’t like the process by which the bills were produced, they should vote “no.”
Ladies, it is a little too early in your political tenure to be ducking for cover. You chose to run in battleground districts. So it is time to stand up and fight for what you believe in. Or are you scared that you will be exposed for who you really are?
Governor finally agrees with GOP Legislators
Here is a quote from Gov. Schwarzenegger you won’t see in the main stream media:
“And now I understand when Republicans say they say that they are serious about negotiating, but when it comes down to the language itself, that’s where it will fall apart. And that’s exactly what happened this time.”
He made this statement after pledging to veto the controversial budget fixed passed on a simple majority vote, in violation of the State Constitution (Click Here to Watch the Video).
What he was commenting on was the fact that when Legislative Democrats negotiate they say they will do one thing. But the devil is in the details-otherwise known as “Bill Language”. Meaning- the bill language that is offered by the Democrats often does not do what they said it would do. This is why it is a general policy amongst assembly Republicans to not agree to any idea- even in concept until you see it in writing. Furthermore, it explains why the GOP has insisted on their issues being address before even considering new revenues.
The truth is that Legislative Democrats don’t believe that they have to actually negotiate with Republicans. They ignore them whenever they don’t need their votes to pass legislation. No matter how salient a point they make may be, it often gets lost in the fervor of getting their bills through the legislative process. They simply state that they are willing to take a look into it as the bill moves along. The bill passes and nothing ever happens.
And when they do need GOP votes, Democrats don’t bother trying to negotiate in good faith. Rather, they try to pick off one or two votes with incentives that may help that member, but don’t necessarily address their overall policy concerns. Of course, the governor cannot necessarily complain about this tactic, since he often employees it himself.
If a deal is going to get done, it will only be when all sides are allowed to sit at the table and negotiate in good faith. All sacred cows need to be on the table- meaning that everyone is going to have to give up something in order to get something.
CA Assembly to vote on $5 billion in new taxes that they are calling “Fees”
Admittedly, I am not sure that this is the case. But cut me some slack, Republicans just got the bill language an hour or so ago. So much for “Open and Transparent Government”.
We have also heard that there will be votes on some education issues and transportation issues, and possibly health and human services. Of course, Democrats may change the whole thing up. Heck, we may not see what is actually being proposed until the members walk into the chamber this afternoon. They have already changed the meeting time. Who knows what else will change.
The California Channel will be broadcasting this session live at 3 p.m. on many local cable channels, or on their live webfeed at http://www.calchannel.com/ . You can also listen to the session live by going to the Assembly’s webpage and clicking on “Floor Session” at the top of this page here: http://www.assembly.ca.gov/Committee_hearings/ . If you are unable to watch live, you will be able to retrieve the broadcast at http://www.calchannel.com/ later in the archives.
Watch the “Why the GOP should cave!” dog and pony show LIVE!
Sacramento Bee writers, Dan Walters and Jon Ortiz will also be hosting a live blog during the presentation at www.sacbee.com/live. That is how important this presentation will be.
But you can be assured that the bulk of the dog and pony show will be focused on why legislative Republicans should cave on their commitment not to raise taxes.
Bill Lockyer has already threatened to withhold the sale of any bonds until the budget is fixed. Furthermore, he would cease the flow of funds to current projects. Additionally, Governor Schwarzenegger has hinted at massive layoffs amongst the ranks of state employees, a proposal that will do more to influence Democrats than Republicans.
But what is missing from any discussions are the substantive requests that GOP legislators have put forward. Namely:
• Economic stimulus proposals (not tax cuts) for employers like:
o AB 32 implementation relief
o Repeal of eight hour overtime
o Regulatory relief
• Substantive budget reform like:
o A real spending cap
o A rainy day fund
o Providing flexibility to agencies (especially schools) on how they can spend their budgets.
• Ongoing spending reductions by:
o Consolidating agencies and departments with duplicative functions “Blowing up the boxes”
o Re-visiting collective bargaining agreements and related side deals.
o Reworking of funding formulas that demand so much of the state budget.
Even as Democrats declare “Everything needs to be on the table”. Please notice that these options will be found nowhere on that table. Not because Republicans have not proposed them. Rather, Democrats have killed them at every turn.
Watch the “Why the GOP should cave!” dog and pony show LIVE!
Sacramento Bee writers, Dan Walters and Jon Ortiz will also be hosting a live blog during the presentation at www.sacbee.com/live. That is how important this presentation will be.
But you can be assured that the bulk of the dog and pony show will be focused on why legislative Republicans should cave on their commitment not to raise taxes.
Bill Lockyer has already threatened to withhold the sale of any bonds until the budget is fixed. Furthermore, he would cease the flow of funds to current projects. Additionally, Governor Schwarzenegger has hinted at massive layoffs amongst the ranks of state employees, a proposal that will do more to influence Democrats than Republicans.
But what is missing from any discussions are the substantive requests that GOP legislators have put forward. Namely:
• Economic stimulus proposals (not tax cuts) for employers like:
o AB 32 implementation relief
o Repeal of eight hour overtime
o Regulatory relief
• Substantive budget reform like:
o A real spending cap
o A rainy day fund
o Providing flexibility to agencies (especially schools) on how they can spend their budgets.
• Ongoing spending reductions by:
o Consolidating agencies and departments with duplicative functions “Blowing up the boxes”
o Re-visiting collective bargaining agreements and related side deals.
o Reworking of funding formulas that demand so much of the state budget.
Even as Democrats declare “Everything needs to be on the table”. Please notice that these options will be found nowhere on that table. Not because Republicans have not proposed them. Rather, Democrats have killed them at every turn.
DeLuz Brothers Discuss Mayor Johnson’s first 100 days on the Capitol Hour
TODAY, November 24th, KTKZ’s The Capitol Hour (12 noon to 1 pm) will feature the ongoing family feud of The DeLuz Brothers . We will be making predictions for the first 100 days of the Kevin Johnson administration. You don’t want to miss the fireworks!
When: Monday, November 24th
Live Audio Steaming at http://www.ktkz.com/ (for those of you out of the Sacramento Region)
TIME: 12 noon-1 pm (PST)
Call in Numbers: (916) 923-3300 or 1(800) 923-1380
Thought the 2008 elections were over? Think again!
And what can we expect from Sacramento’s Mayor-Elect, Kevin Johnson? He is in the minority (Only three of members of the nine seat city council supported him) and will be facing some of the toughest budget decisions any Sacramento leader has ever had to face.
All this and more will be discussed during this week’s show.
To tune in simply go to http://www.deluzbrothers.com/ and click on the Listen Live Button at the top of the page.
You can even join the conversation by calling in at (347) 237-5073. We will be breaking down the upcoming election and much more. You don’t want to miss the fireworks!
Details Below:
When: Friday, November 21st
Station: Blogtalk Radio
Live Audio Steaming at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/The-DeLuz-Brothers
TIME: 11:30-12 noon (PST)
Call in Number: (347) 237-5073
Thought the 2008 elections were over? Think again!
And what can we expect from Sacramento’s Mayor-Elect, Kevin Johnson? He is in the minority (Only three of members of the nine seat city council supported him) and will be facing some of the toughest budget decisions any Sacramento leader has ever had to face.
All this and more will be discussed during this week’s show.
To tune in simply go to http://www.deluzbrothers.com/ and click on the Listen Live Button at the top of the page.
You can even join the conversation by calling in at (347) 237-5073. We will be breaking down the upcoming election and much more. You don’t want to miss the fireworks!
Details Below:
When: Friday, November 21st
Station: Blogtalk Radio
Live Audio Steaming at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/The-DeLuz-Brothers
TIME: 11:30-12 noon (PST)
Call in Number: (347) 237-5073
In Case You Missed it:Activist twins are polar opposites politically
This weekend, the Sacramento Bee did a piece on my twin brother David and I. It was a really cool article. And I’m not just saying that because it is about me!
Activist twins are polar opposites politically
Outside the Pyramid Alehouse on 10th and K streets Thursday, it was hard not to notice the dapper DeLuz twins theatrically debating the great issues of our time.
They’re both 6-foot former linebackers and passionate activists well-known in Sacramento political circles.
Though Craig is sometimes confused for David and vice versa, that’s a giant mistake. Politically, the brothers are polar opposites.
David DeLuz – born 10 minutes before Craig on June 7, 1969 – is a liberal Democrat who proudly sports an Obama-Biden button and wears a blue tie and a navy blue suit.
Craig DeLuz – a quarter-of-an-inch shorter – is a conservative Republican in jeans and a gray pattern sport coat who staunchly defends McCain-Palin.
While there are physical differences between them, it’s really when the DeLuz brothers open their mouths that it’s easiest to tell them apart.
David opposes Proposition 8, which would ban gay marriage. Craig recently showed up at American River College to support a controversial student council resolution endorsing Proposition 8.
They vehemently disagree on abortion and the Iraq war.
In recent weeks they’ve heckled each other at a Black Political Forum in North Sacramento and an NAACP voter education rally at the state Capitol.
They also go at it on local radio and their blog: http://deluzbrothers. blogspot.com/.
“It’s just now getting to the point where people realize there are actually two of us,” David said. “I lost a politically connected position because they thought I was him.”
Craig said he lost a job when his potential employer found out he was the right-leaning DeLuz.
David, who was president of the Sacramento branch of the NAACP from 2002-2005, is an administrator with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation “focused on offender re-entry.”
Craig is Capitol director for Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries, R-Lake Elsinore.
Despite their differences, David managed Craig’s 2000 campaign for Sacramento City Council (he lost to Sandy Sheedy).
“Our goal is the same, to have an engaged community that provides opportunities for everyone,” David said.
The twins haven’t bet on the presidential race “because David won’t give me enough points,” Craig said.
Craig predicts that “an Obama presidency and a Democratic Congress will be one of the best advertising tools for the Republican Party” because they’ll tax and spend Americans into oblivion.
Obama epitomizes style over substance, Craig said. “McCain is not the most attractive or the best speaker, but he’s challenging the administration and trying to find common ground, compared to a guy taking the easy route and saying whatever people want to hear.”
David fires back: “Your depiction of Barack Obama is way over the top. His record demonstrates a willingness to try new ideas. He’s right where we need to be. It’s about creating a middle class that can be a consumer class.”
The twins – born to an Italian American mother and an African American father in Richmond – were adopted by a black couple, John and Elevera DeLuz.
John Deluz, who grew up in Newport, R.I., the son of a Cape Verdian immigrant, joined the Air Force during World War II and was trained as an electrician.
But he couldn’t get a job in Oakland because the electricians union discriminated against blacks. So he wound up taking a job washing cars and later became a warehouse supervisor for Safeway.
“He’d say, ‘You’re just as good as anybody, but you’re no better than anybody, and you’re going to have to work twice as hard to get half as far as the average white boy,’ ” David said.
Both parents were dedicated Democrats.
The twins played football for DeAnza High in Richmond. Craig was nicknamed ” ‘Duke,’ for John Wayne, because I walked like a cowboy and was ready to draw down on anybody.”
“The one thing you did not want to do was mess with one of the DeLuz brothers because if you got in a fight with one of us you had three to five minutes before the other showed up,” Craig said.
Craig went to Chico State, where he became the first African American elected president of the student government. He began listening to Rush Limbaugh but didn’t become a Republican until after his son was born in April 1995.
That day, he realized $2,500 of his first big commission check for signing up members for the California Chamber of Commerce was being taken in taxes. “I said this is outrageous!”
Meanwhile, David attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and in 1988 was inspired by Jesse Jackson – the first black man to make a serious run for president.
“There have been a lot of heated arguments,” David said. “We argued a lot over Bill Clinton and morality in public service. Craig has the nerve to question the morals and ethics of Democrats in general – because we support abortion and gay rights, we are somehow morally inferior to the Republicans.”
“We argue about everything,” Craig said. “He’s a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, I’m a Dallas Cowboys fan. I belong to Kappa Alpha Psi and he belongs to Phi Beta Sigma,” rival black fraternities.
Their mother, who disliked George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan and loved Bill Clinton, “gave Craig a hard time until the day she died,” David said.
Inside the Pyramid Alehouse on Thursday, after the brothers fought over the last chicken wing, Craig declared his love for Sarah Palin.
“She’s got a reputation for taking on corruption and implementing fiscal conservatism. She took on the people who ran as Republicans and were spending like drunken liberals and booted them out.”
“Are you kidding me?” David responded. “That woman is clearly unqualified to serve as president.”
Craig contended: “Obama doesn’t say what change he’s about.”
David countered: “He’s definitely going to turn away from the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive war and rely more on diplomacy, and he’s going to support working families rather than CEOs and big corporations.”
Jacques Whitfield, who worked with both brothers at the old Grant Joint Union High District where he served as general counsel from 1997 until earlier this year, says “they’re both very good at speaking up for their constituencies.”
Whitfield, now a management consultant, leans left, “but I respect Craig’s courage to stand up for what he believes in as an archconservative, even in this Democratic town where much of the agenda is progressive.”
Whitfield said Craig is a true believer and “interestingly enough, so is David. At the end of the day I love them both.”
Kevin Johnson caves on marriage
The Sacramento Bee is reporting:
Kevin Johnson opposes same-sex marriage ban
By Ryan Lillis – rlillis@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am
PDT Wednesday, September 10, 2008Sacramento mayoral candidate Kevin Johnson will announce today that he opposes a Nov. 4 ballot measure that would ban same-sex marriage – even though his personal belief is that marriage is “between a man and a woman.”
According to a statement issued Tuesday by his campaign, Johnson opposes Proposition 8 “because it would write discrimination into the state constitution.”
The press release said Johnson shares views with Sen. Barack Obama and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who oppose a ban on gay marriage in California but personally believe marriage should be between a man and a woman.
Proposition 8 would reverse a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year allowing same-sex couples to marry.
Mayor Heather Fargo said Tuesday that Johnson made “a good move to oppose Prop. 8.”
“Now we just need to convince him that marriage between gay people is in fact a good thing,” Fargo said.
She said she has opposed Proposition 8 “since it has been drafted and will continue to campaign against it.” The mayor has conducted four marriage ceremonies between same-sex couples since they were legalized in June.
Fargo has been endorsed by the Sacramento Stonewall Democrats, which is the region’s largest Democraticorganization, and is campaigning to shoot down Proposition 8.
The organization’s president, Ed Bennett, said he was pleased Johnson was voicing his opposition to the proposed ban, but that his group would continue to support Fargo.
“She’s been against Prop. 8 since the beginning and her opinion
has always been voiced,” Bennett said. “She left no doubt from the very beginning.”
Back during the primary, Johnson created a quite a stir when he stated during a televised debate that he believed that marriage should be between a man and a woman. This statement had many supporters of marriage thinking that they finally had a democrat that they could get behind. Well, that didn’t last long.
Shortly after the State Supreme Court voted to undermine the voters of California and legalize same-sex marriage, Johnson’s campaign staff was quick post a statement on his campaign website stating that he fully supported the decision and would be an advocate for the LGTB community. This statement prompted criticism from some faith community leaders who supported him because of his previous statement in defense of marriage, prompting the campaign to moderate the statement. And now the statement has been changed again, removing all references to same-sex marriage.
Kevin Johnson taken the coward’s way out by trying to be on both sides of the issue. He says the he personally believes that marriage is between a man and a woman. But he opposes an initiative that would make sure that this is the case in California.
This causes me to wonder what other of his personal views will not be reflected in his administration?
He says he does not believe in raising taxes and wants to cut the size of government. But will he stand up to the public employee unions who will pressure him to expand the size of government and raise taxes? He says that he believes in economic development and promoting jobs. But what will happen when the environmentalists start clamoring to limit development? History of his story tells uu that he will cave.
Vote for Kevin Johnson if you wish. But don’t be fooled into thinking that you are voting for anything other than a Democrat who is afraid to stand up for what he claims to believe.
At least Heather Fargo isn’t afraid to stand for what she believes.
Rep. Richardson’s home declared a ‘public nuisance’
Laura Richardson just can’t get get it together!First Rep. Laura Richardson was having problems making house payments, defaulting six times over eight years.
Then after a bank foreclosed on her Sacramento house and sold it at auction in May, the Long Beach Democrat made such a stink that Washington Mutual, in an unusual move, grabbed it back and returned it to her.This week, in the latest chapter in the housing saga, the Code Enforcement Department in Sacramento declared her home a “public
nuisance.”The city has threatened to fine her as much as $5,000 a month if she doesn’t fix it up.Neighbors in the upper-middle-class neighborhood complain that the sprinklers are never turned on and the grass and plants are dead or dying. The gate is broken, and windows are covered with brown paper.
“I would call it an eyesore,” said Peter Thomsen, a retired bank executive who lives nearby.
The city action was prompted by police action.
Police were twice called to investigate reports of a suspicious person in or around the house, perhaps a homeless man squatting there. Officers called the Code enforcement Department, which boarded up a broken door.
Code enforcement inspectors visited the house twice in July, finding “junk and debris” in the driveway and “rotting fruit on the ground in the rear yard which creates rodent harborage,” according to department documents.
Ron O’Connor, operations manager of the Code Enforcement Department, said homes in the Curtis Park area seldom were tagged as a public nuisance.
“It’s a really nice neighborhood,” he said.
Asked about the house, Richardson’s office released a statement that said: “Neither Congresswoman Richardson nor her attorney have received any information referring to this matter. Any additional information will be provided at a later date.”
Richardson has few worries in the November election. The 37th District is so solidly Democratic that no Republican is running against her. Democrat Peter Mathews, who has sought the seat several times before, is mounting a write-in campaign.
DeLuz Brothers Take Their Debate to the Airwaves- Monday July 7th from Noon – 1 pm
Monday, July 7, 2008 the “Hannity & Colmes” of Sacramento will take to the airwaves. Craig and David Deluz, twin brothers and hosts of DeLuzBrothers.com will be sitting in for Sacramento Political Talk Show Host Erick Hogue. The show, known as The Capitol Hour airs from Noon to 1 pm on 1380 AM, KTKZ.
For years, the DeLuz’ have enjoyed many vibrant political debates at family gatherings. Most of these discussions have featured the musings of David & Craig DeLuz; two of Sacramento’s leading community activists and political figures.
“Anyone who has ever spent any time with David & I know that we can tend to have some very heated discussions.” Craig points out, “But what is different about our family debates is that both of us are politically involved and knowledgeable about the issues we discuss.”
David De Luz, describes himself as a progressive Democrat. David’s community involvement has been primarily with liberal organizations. He has served as President of Sacramento Branch of the NAACP and the Chairman of the Ninth Assembly District Committee for the Sacramento Democratic Party.
Craig on the other hand is a conservative Republican and has focused his volunteer activities on more conservative efforts. He has been President of the California Black Republican council and founded the Republican Ethnic Coalition of Sacramento. Presently he is the Sacramento Editor for RedCounty, a website featuring center right news and commentary from throughout the state and serves as President of the California Republican Assembly’s Sacramento chapter.
Together their diverse perspectives and brotherly bond have proven to bring an interesting twist to the discussion of cultural, political and social issues of the day.
“This is an opportunity to share with others a fact that Craig and I have know for years – two people who see the world so differently can disagree and still get along in love and brotherhood.” Says David, “We have much respect for each other, and largely agree on the type of world we want to leave future generations – we just really disagree on how to get there.”
“So sit back, relax and enjoy the fireworks” exclaim the brothers “Who knows, you may just find some ‘news you can use’ and get entertained in the process!”
SHOW DETAILS:
When: Monday, July 7th From 12 noon to 1pm
Station:1380 AM KTKZ
Call in Number: 916-923-3300 or 888-923-1380
Listen Online: http://www.ktkz.com/
Listen to Craig DeLuz on the Capitol Hour with Eric Hogue
Tomorrow, Tuesday June 3rd at 12:30 pm I will be joining Eric Hogue as we breakdown several local races and discuss the battle for the heart of Sacramento’s Republican Party
Here are the details:
Tuesday, June 3rd (Tomorrow) @12:30 pm
1380 AM KTKZ
Call in numbers :916-923-3300 or 888-923-1380
To listen online simply Click Here. Thenk hit the “Listen Live” button in the upper righthand corner of the page.
Should Republicans vote for Kevin Johnson?
On Saturday, I received three different mailers from the Kevin Johnson for Mayor campaign urging me to support his candidacy. The one that stood out the most was the piece that lead with “Attention Republicans”. Then it finally hit me… I don’t know if I, as a Republican should vote for Kevin Johnson.
I realized that the true choice is between two democrats; one who is an unabashed liberal and the other who is clearly more moderate. I am forced into a quandary as to whether I would be selling out my Republican values to support a democrat-Kevin Johnson, based only on the hope that he will be better Fargo on the issues that are important to me. And while a side by side comparison of the two candidates bears this out to be true, a closer inspection into the Johnson campaign presents numerous contradictions that leave this Republican voter with more questions than answers.
For example, between Johnson and the incumbent, Heather Fargo, Johnson clearly has a better platform from which to promote economic development and job growth. As a business owner and most importantly an employer, Johnson knows what it takes to make Sacramento an attractive place for business. Lower taxes, less regulation and incentives would likely result from a Johnson administration; that is if he is able to stand up to anti-business, entitlement crowd who view business as nothing more than a fatted calf to be tied down fleeced to pay for pet government funded program. The California Legislative Black Caucus, United Healthcare Workers and Teamsters Local 150 represent a small sampling of Johnson’s endorsees who will be inevitably leaning on Johnson to curb his enthusiasm toward the business community.
The Johnson campaign has also tried to portray their candidate as a public safety and limited government advocate. His proposal to increase the number of officers on the street without increasing spending sounds like a great idea on the surface, but lacks the level of specificity that would make it believable. It is also import to consider whether the support Johnson is receiving from the Central Labor Council came with a price. When the chips are down, will Johnson stand up to the pressure from public employee labor unions or will he be like most Democratic electeds and fold like an empty suit, giving up more in salaries and benefits than the City can really afford?
For a brief moment social conservatives found a sliver of hope upon which to hang their support of Kevin Johnson. During a televised debate, Johnson unequivocally stated that he believed that marriage was between a man and a woman. But following the California Supreme Court’s 4-3 decision to legalize same-sex marriage, Johnson made a considerably large step in the opposite direction declaring that he was supportive of the court’s decision and would be an advocate for the LGTB community. Now admittedly, he tempered this position by altering the statement of his website to state that his opposition to same-sex marriage was his personal view and that it would not affect his policy decisions as mayor. This apparent flip-flop is troubling because it presents Johnson as a candidate who wants to be on both sides of the issue; one who will change his position if enough pressure is applied.
All this having been said, I still will not go as far as to say that Republicans should not vote for Kevin Johnson. His primary opponent, Mayor Heather Fargo is clearly more of a big government, tax raising anti-family, job-killing liberal than Johnson. But we should be under no illusion that his campaign has presented any substantive argument that should cause one to believe that a Johnson administration will be able to stand up to the union bosses and limit the growth of our city government; cut taxes and regulation in order to the keep and bring jobs to Sacramento. And we have already been assured by Johnson that his personal inclination toward traditional family and moral values will have nothing to do with his decisions as mayor.
The choice as to whether or not to vote for Kevin Johnson comes down to voting for the devil you know (Heather Fargo) or the candidate you don’t (Kevin Johnson). My hope is that this election continues into the fall, so that I can get to know Johnson better. I know that the chances of us electing a Republican in Sacramento are slim and that Kevin Johnson may be the closest thing we may ever get to a fiscally conservative, pro-business, morally minded mayor.
But before I hang my hat on that hope, I want to know, that I know, that I know….. And right now, all that I know about Kevin Johnson is…. I don’t know.
