Raising McCain
Senator John McCain accepted his party’s nomination for President in St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center last night in front of an enthusiastic audience. However, the excitement meter was turned down a bit from the previous night when Governor Sarah Palin spoke to the convention.
McCain’s address did not provide the drama, anticipation or the curiosity that the little known governor of Alaska offered the previous night. Then again, more drama was expected from a person that the Senator’s wife, Cindy, described earlier in the evening as “a pistol packing mother of five.”
As to McCain’s speech, the reviews from the California delegation were mostly positive. McCain was lauded for his direct approach and straight talk. I was told McCain understands the need to move the government forward with 21st century ideas. Others said he delivered the speech he had to give and did it well.
A former governor and, perhaps, a future one?
Former CA Governor Pete Wilson and Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman
Education Triage
There are two things that almost all Californians agree on. First,
our public education system is failing its most important
constituents – the students. Second, the California State
Legislature, California Teachers Association, along with entrenched
bureaucrats and administrators scattered throughout the public school
system, have effectively blocked incremental, meaningful reform.
Efforts to stop significant and lasting change could not be any more
staunch or selfish than those that have thwarted mere incremental
reform, meaning we’ve seen the worst the irradicable can do.
Therefore, it’s time to be bold and enact four dramatic measures that
would transform public education in California and make it a source
of pride, not embarrassment.
Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement Benefits CA Industry
The recent collapse of international trade talks in Geneva makes it clear that the United States must become more bullish in forging ahead with its own trade agreements with developing nations. On the heels of President Bush’s trip to South Korea, where President Bush and South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak reiterated their support for building robust bilateral trade, our Congress needs to take serious steps toward enacting a free trade agreement with this vital and emerging trade partner. The Administration is hoping that the President’s trip to Korea served as a catalyst for Congress to see the real benefits of free trade with South Korea and enact an agreement that has been sitting in limbo—mired in partisan debate—since the summer of last year.
South Korea is a key ally with strong diplomatic ties to the United States. Improving trade relations with our seventh largest international partner—a country that now produces a trillion dollar economy—would bring new energy and vitality to a U.S. – Korea partnership and could help Korea become our third-largest free trade partner — exceeded only by the European Union and NAFTA.