For Californians, Dec. 7 A Reminder That The Coast Is Never Quite Clear
“Could it happen here?” That’s the question that was asked in Southern California 74 years ago. Dec. 7marks the anniversary of Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. naval base near Honolulu. Two hours of bombing killed more than 2,000 Americans and wounded 1,000 more. Eight battleships were damaged or destroyed, as were nearly 200 […]
The Terrorist Massacre: A Dismal Response by Politicians and the Press
California has been hit by two terrorists who caused multiple deaths and injuries. So what was the response of our media and political elites when this happened on Wednesday: hysteria over gun laws. From the beginning it was clear San Bernardino was not just another nut case shooting; the terrorists were dressed military style, they had […]
Voters Say Too Many Initiatives—But Keep Them Coming
According to the recent Public Policy Institute of California poll, state residents like the initiative process but think too many initiatives appear on the ballot. To borrow a line from Al Jolson, “You ain’t seen nothing yet!” Of the 100 or so initiative proposals that have been filed with the Attorney General, maybe 20-percent will […]
California Isn’t Any Better at Reducing CO2 Emissions Than The Rest of the U.S.
The United Nations Conference on Climate Change currently being held in Paris seemingly has everyone focused on this issue. Oddly enough, even though they can’t negotiate for the United States (nor, are the U.S. negotiators likely to listen to them), California has a large delegation in France’s capital, including Governor Jerry Brown, Senate President Pro […]
How Much Will the NFL Pay for Our Eyeballs
The National Football League is considering moving one or two franchises to the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the second largest media market in the country with over 18 million residents in the five county area. Now that downtown Los Angeles is no longer a viable option, the NFL is considering two locations for a stadium, […]
Gov. Brown: Statement Regarding Shooting in San Bernardino
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ families and everyone affected by the brutal attack. California will spare no effort in bringing these killers to justice.” Out of respect for Californians affected by today’s tragedy, this evening’s annual Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will be canceled. Although the ceremony is canceled, the Christmas tree […]
Will Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom be Once Again on the Winning Side of History?
Once again we are confronted with a horrific episode involving multiple casualties and at least fourteen dead in a mass shooting at a San Bernardino center housing people with developmental disabilities. The investigation continues as this is being written. And once again there will be loud outcries for sterner measures to keep lethal weapons from getting […]
Poll Questions Importance of Ballot Measures
With a potentially long ballot of initiatives facing voters next November, the Public Policy Institute of California asked voters the importance of some of the issues they would likely vote on. While voters could ultimately face as many as 20 initiatives, the pollsters focused on four measures: a state school bond, minimum wage, extending Prop […]
Welcome to California (Not!)
You can’t define an entire state by its borders. And that’s a good thing for California. We wouldn’t much like what our borders say about us. Take the California-Oregon border. When you drive over the Siskiyou Pass on Interstate 5 and cross from Oregon into California, you will not be greeted by any welcoming party, […]