• Arnold Schwarzenegger,  Meg Whitman

    Are California GOP Governor Candidate Meg Whitman’s Job Creation Goals Realistic Or a Rookie Mistake?

    Meg Whitman feb 17

    Meg Whitman, a likely candidate for California governor, speaks in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009. The former eBay chief executive stressed her goals of job creation and limited government

    Meg Whitman, a candidate for the GOP nomination for California Governor on Tuesday pledged to create two million more jobs in the Golden State – within five years.

    Is this goal realistic?

    Not really and as Dan Walters writes it is pretty much HOT AIR.

    It’s doubtful whether anything she could do as governor would reach that goal, especially since she’d have to deal with a Legislature controlled by liberal Democrats who oppose her specific proposals. And really, do we really want rapid economic growth of those dimensions, even if it were possible? Probably not.

    This state has had a boom-and-bust economy for too many years, with those cycles coming about once a decade. The defense spending boom of the 1980s, the hightech boom of the 1990s and the housing boom of this decade all went bust, leaving personal, economic and fiscal chaos in their wake. One effect was the state’s chronic budget crisis.

    California desperately needs some economic equilibrium, with steady expansion to match our population growth.We need efficient infrastructure, and good education and job training programs to attract long-term investment in permanent new jobs.

    The next governor should make those conditions a priority, not offer pie-in-the-sky promises that can’t – and shouldn’t – be kept.

    Meg Whitman, the former CEO of e-Bay is a rookie in politics. She has never before run for office and has been a registered Republican only since 2007. In fact, she missed a number of elections as a California voter, including the Gray Davis recall election which elected current GOP Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

    Whitman is an accomplished business woman but her stands on the issues are very similar to moderate or RINO Schwarzenegger.

    California voters six years ago took a chance with another rookie politician in Schwarzenegger and it has been a disaster – both for the California Republican Party and the California economy.

    California cannot afford another rookie mistake.


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  • Al Sharpton,  Barack Obama,  Day By Day,  Sean Delonas

    Day By Day by Chris Muir February 20, 2009 – Real Justice

    Day By Day 022009

    Day By Day by Chris Muir

    Flap thought we are now in the era of “post racial” politics when the “The Obamessiah” was elected to the Presidency. You know, all of that HOPE and CHANGE?

    But, now when someone dares criticize Obama for his policies, the Amen Choir of African American leaders, including Al Sharpton cry RACISM.

    A New York Post cartoon Wednesday drew fire from civil rights activist Al Sharpton and others who say the drawing invokes historically racist images in suggesting an ape wrote President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus package.

    The artist, Sean Delonas, called Sharpton’s reaction “ridiculous,” and the newspaper defended its decision to run his cartoon. But other African-American leaders joined Sharpton, who has been the butt of previous Delonas panels, in attacking what they called the cartoon’s racial overtones.

    “Sean Delonas’ cartoon in today’s New York Post is insensitive and offensive,” National Urban League President Marc Morial said in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon. “Comparing President Obama and his effort to revive the economy in a manner that depicts violence and racist inferences is unacceptable.”

    The cartoon showed two police officers standing over the body of a chimpanzee they just shot, a reference to this week’s mauling of a Connecticut woman by a pet chimp, which police killed after the attack. In the cartoon, one of the officers tells the other, “They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.”

    The Cartoon:

    Delonas and Chimp
    Get used to this routine, every time there is criticism of President Obama. But, will the press allow “The One” to get away with it?

    Only for a while.


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  • Del.icio.us Links

    links for 2009-02-20

    • Former President Bill Clinton gives President Barack Obama an "A" grade for his first month in office, but tells ABC News that Obama needs to put on a more positive face when speaking to the American people about the economy and must keep pressure on Republicans who try to obstruct his plans.
    • The New York Times and Washington lobbyist Vicki Iseman have settled her defamation lawsuit in which she claimed that the newspaper had falsely suggested she had engaged in a romantic and unethical relationship with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. On its Web site today, the Times issued a brief "Note to Readers'' explaining that its story, published a year ago this month, did not "intend to conclude'' that Iseman had engaged in an affair with McCain, or had acted unethically on behalf of her clients.
    • Although a spokesman for President Barack Obama said the administration wouldn’t pursue the revival of the Fairness Doctrine, Republican Sen. Jim DeMint, S.C., wants Senate Democrats to go on the record one way or another on the issue.

      DeMint, chairman of the Senate Steering Committee, said on Feb. 19 he will offer the Broadcaster Freedom Act as an amendment to the D.C. Voting Rights bill next week. The Broadcaster Freedom Act was introduced by Republican lawmakers last month and prevents the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from reinstating the Fairness Doctrine.

    • We're No. 1 — only more so.

      The budget deal the Legislature reached today will keep California's top personal income tax rate and sales tax rate the highest in the Union.

      The deal will raise personal income tax rates by 0.25 of a percentage point across the board. The highest rate, on taxable income of more than $1 million, will rise to 10.55% from 10.3%.

      The next-highest tax rate, on taxable income of more than $94,110 for a married couple filing jointly, will rise to 9.55% from 9.3%. For singles, the threshold for the new 9.55% tax rate is $47,055.
      ++++++
      Such an honor….

    • After the longest continuous floor session in California history (45-plus hours), the state Senate is taking a long weekend.

      Hours after the $40 billion-plus budget package passed this morning, Greg Schmidt, secretary of the Senate, sent out a notice to lawmakers' offices that read:

      "In consideration of the fact that the Senate closed its protracted budget session at 6:30 a.m. this morning, the President Pro Tem has announced today, February 19th, and tomorrow, February 20th, will be Senate holidays. Capitol offices will be closed. Schedules for the District Offices are subject to the discretion of each Senator."

      The Senate met continuously from Tuesday morning through Thursday morning. There was another all-night session from last Saturday evening through Sunday.

    • Flying on Air Force One with America’s new first family feels much like popping over for pizza.

      Natural, casual, warm.

      What did I once write of the president and Michelle? Mr. Principal and Mrs. Math Teacher? Well. We’re all different things on different days in different settings. On this day—last Friday—the Obamas were attentive and gracious to five columnists invited to travel with them from Washington to Chicago, where the first family was spending the long weekend. (The others were Clarence Page, Ron Brownstein, E.J. Dionne and Bob Herbert.)

    • It's almost done.

      State senators were approving a deal to close the state's $40 billion budget deficit this morning after agreeing to give Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, most of the changes he demanded in exchange for providing the crucial 27th vote.

      Here's what he got:

      * A constitutional amendment establishing an open primary system.
      The measure will place on the June 2010 ballot an open primary proposal affecting congressional and state races in 2012 and beyond.

      Under the plan, the top two candidates in a primary would face off in a general election. Candidates would not participate in partisan primaries, but they would be able to retain their party labels on the ballot.

    • Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, said he's ready to vote for the budget after scoring major concessions from legislative leaders as part of a plan to bridge a $40 billion deficit. The only remaining question is whether two-thirds of both houses will provide enough votes to give Maldonado what he wants.

      As part of Maldonado's negotiated package, lawmakers will place on the June 2010 ballot an open primary proposal intended to favor more candidates such as him. The proposal would impact congressional and state races in 2012 and beyond. Under the plan, the top two candidates in a primary would face off in a general election. Candidates would not participate in partisan primaries, but they would be able to retain their party labels on the ballot.

      Maldonado will be termed out of the state Senate in 2012. He is rumored to be considering a run for state controller in 2010, though he said he has not yet decided his political plans.