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CA-25: Dante Acosta Agrees to Substitute for Rep Buck McKeon for Lunch Auction
If you recall a few weeks ago, Democrat Dr. Lee Rogers purchased a lunch with his Congressional race opponent incumbent Republican Rep. Buck McKeon.Congressional Candidate Dr. Lee Rogers won an auction for lunch with Representative Howard “Buck” McKeon at the College of the Canyons Silver Spur Celebration Saturday night. The auction took place in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. Rogers paid $300 to the College for the lunch donated by McKeon.
“The money goes to the College Foundation, which is a good cause,” said Rogers. “I would like to sit with the Congressman and have a cordial discussion about the challenges that face the communities in the 25th district and the United States.”
The donation offers lunch in Santa Clarita or Washington, DC for the winner and up to three guests. Rogers intends on inviting three members of the local press to observe the lunchtime conversation. Invitations will be extended to The Antelope Valley Press, The Signal, and The Simi Valley Acorn. “There are many serious problems facing the district and it will be good to compare and contrast our views on policy,” Rogers said.
Rogers will reach out to Congressman McKeon this week to set up a date for the “lunch summit.”
I guess there was a problem in scheduling or whatever.
But, never fear another opponent of Rep. Buck McKeon, Republican Dante Acosta has agreed to stand in and take Buck’s place.
From the press release:
Congressional Candidate Dante Acosta has offered to lunch with Democrat Candidate Lee Rogers after Congressman McKeon’s unresponsiveness.
Dr. Rogers won an auction for lunch donated by Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon at a charity fundraiser to support College of the Canyons, an important local educational institution.
After reading web postings that Dr. Rogers was unable to schedule a date after numerous attempts, Mr. Acosta reached out to Dr. Rogers.
“I know from firsthand experience the difficulty in obtaining a meeting with Congressman McKeon and the how frustrating it can be dealing with his office, so I decided to offer to have lunch with Dr. Rogers myself and he has agreed,” Acosta said. “I also told Dr. Rogers to invite any members of the media he wishes, I’m not afraid to speak in front of the press.”
“It is so important for a representative to be willing to listen to and engage with the community. It is part of their job to work with ALL members of the community, Democrat or Republican to get things done. I have very strong principles and will no doubt have differences with Dr. Rogers but if you are not willing to listen and discuss issues how will you know what you do agree on? I look forward to being able to discuss the important local issues like stopping the Cemex mega-mine and bringing more jobs to the district as well as federal issues such as the war in Afghanistan and the national debt.” Mr. Acosta added.
Mr. Acosta and Dr. Rogers agreed to hold their “Lunch Summit” on March 27th in Santa Clarita and will invite the press to dine with them.
You would think that Rep Buck McKeon who delivered a speech this morning at the Reagan Presidential Library would have agreed to his luncheon obligation today.
I mean, after all, it is for charity.
Oh well!
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President 2012 Poll Watch: In North Carolina President Obama Leading Republican Field
British Prime Minister David Cameron and President Obama today at the White House
According to the latest PPP poll.Whoever the Republican nominee is Barack Obama has an advantage over him right now. Obama leads Romney by 3 points, 49-46. That’s up from a 1 point lead a month ago. And Obama’s ahead of Santorum by 5 points, 49-44. That’s up from a 2 point lead in February. Obama’s up 48-41 on Ron Paul and 51-42 on Newt Gingrich.
Obama’s breaking even on his approval numbers in the state with 49% giving him good marks and 49% poor ones. This is the first time since last June Obama hasn’t been under water in North Carolina. Obama hit a low water mark in September 43/53. He’s seen modest improvement with Democrats and Republicans since then, but the really big shift is with independents. He’s gone from 31/62 with them to 46/51- they’re still not fond of him but he’s coming a lot closer to breaking even now than he did six months ago.Part of Obama’s good numbers in North Carolina are a function of his own improved popularity, but he’s also benefiting from the poor image of his opponents. As we’re finding in most swing states Mitt Romney is very unpopular with only 31% of voters seeing him favorably to 56% with a negative opinion. Rick Santorum doesn’t do much better- his favorability spread is 36/52.
In this key battleground state, the GOP candidates are under-performing against a weakened incumbent President.
I would think here we have another example of why the Republican Party would be well suited if none of the current candidates were able to win a majority of nomination delegates. Then, the Republican Party could make another choice at the August convention.
The entire poll is here. -
Stratfor on Methamphetamine Production in Mexico
Meth Mouth – the effect of Methamphetamine use
Stratfor has an excellent piece on the production of methamphetamine in Mexico and Central America, production techniques and precursor chemicals.Based on evidence obtained from raided laboratories in the United States and Mexico, it appears there are two primary methods of methamphetamine production in those countries: the phenyl-2-propanone (P2P) method and the reduction method.
Sometimes referred to as “building up,” P2P is considered the more difficult of the two methods. It requires more chemicals and materials and more sophisticated chemistry. In fact, the chemical process is so technical and complex that it requires several days to complete, necessitating a skillset akin to that of licit chemists. It also entails a purification step that increases the potency of the final product. While P2P produces a more potent final product, the method is subject to the competence of the manufacturers and the quality of the chemicals being used. P2P is the method most employed by Mexican criminal organizations because its two primary requisite precursor chemicals, methylamine and phenyl acetic acid, are loosely regulated in Mexico.
Reduction is the manufacturing method primarily used in Asia and the United States. This method involves mixing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine with a few easily attainable precursor chemicals. With reduction, a manufacturer can cook a small volume of meth (a few ounces) in as few as eight hours. Indeed, the key difference between the manufacturing methods is that reduction requires less time and less sophistication than P2P, and ultimately it produces an inferior product.
It should be noted that the manufacturing method has nothing to do with production scale. Either method can be used to cook large or small quantities of the drug. It can be manufactured in a hotel, apartment, home, car trunk or backpack. However, to produce meth on an industrial scale, a manufacturer would need more space. Past seizures have taken place in large warehouses (around 1,600 square meters, or 17,000 square feet), small ranches (6-40 hectares, or 15-100 acres) or even mid-sized homes.
Cost of production also differentiates the two methods. While meth is more cheaply rendered by reduction, both methods are extremely cost effective. Depending on the price of chemicals used — determined by the quantity of chemicals purchased and the legitimacy of the supplier — the cost of manufacturing 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of meth comes to anywhere between $150 and $4,000. The use of methylamine, which is highly regulated, expensive and, as stated, only used in the P2P method, is the key factor in this price range; substituting methylamine with a mixture of methanol and anhydrous ammonia drastically reduces the cost. According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Illicit Drug Prices Mid-Year 2009 report, the wholesale market price for meth is $19,720 per kilogram while its street value is $87,717 per kilogram. Needless to say, this is a huge markup.
But it is not necessarily the overall cost that determines the production method of Mexican criminal organizations, or any meth manufacturer. Rather, it is the availability of precursor chemicals that matters. Mexican manufacturers could save vast sums of money by exclusively using the cheaper reduction method. But the Mexican government’s strict regulation of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine compels criminal organizations to use other methods, such as P2P, that require less-regulated precursor chemicals.
Read all of the report and then you can watch this video on the effects of methamphetamine on the mouth. The American Dental Association authored the video.
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The Morning Flap: March 14, 2012
These are my links for March 13th through March 14th:
- Santorum wins Ala., Miss.; Romney takes Hawaii – A resurgent Rick Santorum swept primaries in Alabama and Mississippi Tuesday night, upending the race for the Republican presidential nomination yet again and nudging Newt Gingrich toward the sidelines.
Mitt Romney finished third in both states, but he salvaged a win in the Hawaii caucuses and won the support of all nine delegates at GOP caucuses in American Samoa.
“We did it again,” Santorum told cheering supporters in Lafayette, La. He added, “Now is the time for conservatives to pull together” in an effort to defeat Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who still is the faraway leader in the delegate competition to pick an opponent to President Barack Obama in the fall.
- Santorum-Gingrich Ticket Floated By Gingrich Adviser – A senior adviser to Newt Gingrich told The Huffington Post Tuesday night the campaign likes the idea of Rick Santorum and Gingrich running on the same ticket for the presidency and vice presidency.
“Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum would make a powerful team against Barack Obama,” the adviser said on the condition that his name not be used. “They have the capability to deny Gov. Romney the nomination.”
The proposal comes after rumors of a Gingrich alliance with Texas Gov. Rick Perry surfaced earlier this week. It does not come off as a sign of confidence. Rather, it is an indication that the Gingrich campaign senses their candidate’s position in the race slipping after the former House speaker’s losses to Santorum in Mississippi and Alabama on Tuesday night.
- Untitled (http://getglue.com/Fullosseousflap/stickers/location_rookie?s=ts&ref=Fullosseousflap) – I unlocked the Location Rookie sticker on @GetGlue!
- Untitled (http://getglue.com/tv_shows/americas_newsroom?s=tch&ref=Fullosseousflap) – Blogging away… @GetGlue @americanewsroom
- Untitled (http://getglue.com/tv_shows/daily_rundown?s=tch&ref=Fullosseousflap) – Making more coffee @GetGlue @dailyrundown
- Day By Day March 14, 2012 – My Kung Fu is Strong | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Day By Day March 14, 2012 – My Kung Fu is Strong
- Untitled (http://getglue.com/Fullosseousflap/stickers/night_owl?s=ts&ref=Fullosseousflap) – I unlocked the Night Owl sticker on @GetGlue!
- Untitled (http://getglue.com/tv_shows/morning_joe?s=tch&ref=Fullosseousflap) – Second coffee time @GetGlue #morningjoe
- Losing, Newt sets new goal: Keep Mitt from 1,144 – With losses in Alabama and Mississippi, Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign has changed. In the past, the campaign was about winning, or trying to win, or at least claiming to be trying to win. Now, it’s about keeping Mitt Romney from winning.
Gingrich no longer says he can capture the 1,144 delegates required to wrap up the Republican nomination. Instead, he now speaks frankly about a new plan: Keep Romney from getting to 1,144 by the end of the GOP primary season in June, and then start what Gingrich calls a “conversation” about who should be the Republican nominee. That conversation, the plan goes, would lead to a brokered GOP convention at which Gingrich would emerge as the eventual nominee.
- McKeon sees big shortfalls in DoD budget – McKeon sees big shortfalls in DoD budget
- Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-14 » Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-14
- Favorite Son Santorum Thumps Romney – Quinnipiac – Pennsylvania Republicans are going for favorite son Rick Santorum big time, giving the former U.S. Senator a 36 – 22 percent lead over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the Keystone State’s presidential primary, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul has 12 percent, with 8 percent for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
In a head-to-head matchup, Santorum tops Romney 52 – 32 percent among Republican voters, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
If Santorum gets to November, he gets 44 percent of Pennsylvania voters, to 45 percent for President Barack Obama – too close to call. In other possible November matchups:
President Obama tops Romney 46 – 40 percent; Obama beats Gingrich 50 – 37 percent; The president leads Paul 45 – 40 percent.
- Untitled (http://getglue.com/topics/p/coffee?s=tch&ref=Fullosseousflap) – Starbucks while watching LA News and Weather @GetGlue #Coffee
- Untitled (http://getglue.com/Fullosseousflap/stickers/assistant_editor?s=ts&ref=Fullosseousflap) – I unlocked the Assistant Editor sticker on @GetGlue!
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-14 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-14
- Untitled (http://getglue.com/Fullosseousflap/stickers/droider?s=ts&ref=Fullosseousflap) – I unlocked the Droider sticker on @GetGlue!
- Untitled (http://getglue.com/tv_shows/ncis_los_angeles?s=tch&ref=Fullosseousflap) – It is a repeat but I am reading too. @GetGlue @NCISLA_CBS
- 3 Ways Google Social Search Should Change Your Marketing – Since the introduction of Google+, Google has been redefining how it can provide more relevant search results.
Recently Google introduced Search, Plus Your World, something I’ll call Google social search.
This new enhancement has made it essential to have a Google+ profile and/or Google+ business page.
Why? Google is highlighting Google+ content in search results.
This article will share three tips you need to know to benefit from Google social search.
By the way, if you haven’t already done so, create a Google+ page for your business. Fill out all the sections with images and top focus keywords you want to rank for in search.
Once the page is created, engage with people and other businesses, share great content and post publicly every day.
- Flap’s California Blog Readers: Please Support @Flap – Gregory Flap Cole in the Los Angeles Marathon » Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s California Blog Readers: Please Support @Flap – Gregory Flap Cole in the Los Angeles Marathon
- Encyclopedia Britannica to stop printing books – After 244 years, Encyclopedia Britannica will cease production of its iconic multi-volume book sets.
Britannica usually prints a new set of the tomes every two years, but 2010’s 32-volume set will be its last. Instead, the company will focus solely on its digital encyclopedia and education tools.
The news is sure to sadden champions of the printed word, but Britannica president Jorge Cauz said the move is a natural part of his company’s evolution.
“Everyone will want to call this the end of an era, and I understand that,” Cauz says. “But there’s no sad moment for us. I think outsiders are more nostalgic about the books than I am.”
- CBO boosts its Obamacare Medicaid cost estimate – I’ve already noted in a separate post that new Congressional Budget Office projections show President Obama’s health care law will cost $1.76 trillion over 10 years, rather than the $940 billion originally advertised. But there are lots of other moving parts in the CBO’s updated estimates that are worth deeper elaboration.
The big picture takeaway is that due mostly to weaker economic projections, the CBO now projects that more people will be obtaining insurance through Medicaid than it estimated a year ago at a greater cost to the government, but fewer people will be getting insurance through their employers or the health care law’s new subsidized insurance exchanges. Overall spending will be higher than estimated a year ago, but increased revenue from penalties and taxes will more than offset this. Also interesting: CBO now expects two million fewer people to be covered as a result of the health care law than previously projected.
- LA Times Profiles Jon Fleischman’s Flash Report; Fleischman Admits to Being a Monkey – In our recent appearance on KOC together, I had to correct a Fleischman claim that TARP was a program begin by President Obama. Fleischman was also unaware that Americans pay a lower percentage of taxes today as a part of their incomes than they did during the 1950s (its a documented fact) and that the effectiev corporate tax rate is basically 12 percent, the lowest its been in 40 years. But as far as Jon’s concerned, keep taking a meat clever to taxes is the only way to go.
Oh way, and he compares himself to a woman and a monkey; from the story:
“I’m not only Jane Goodall, who’s looking at the monkeys, I actually am one of the monkeys,” Fleischman said in an interview at his Newport Beach office. “The monkeys will talk to another monkey before they will talk to a reporter.”
Are baboons apes or monkeys?
- Race Day Tracking : LA Marathon – Los Angeles Marathon race day tracking now available here: Twitter, Facebook, E-mail or Text
- Capitol Alert: New report finds low college attendance by California Latinos – Capitol Alert: New report finds low college attendance by California Latinos
- Capitol Alert: New report finds low college attendance by California Latinos – Capitol Alert: New report finds low college attendance by California Latinos
- Michael Reagan to Aid in California Initiative to Change California to a Part-Time Legislature » Flap’s California Blog – Michael Reagan to Aid in California Initiative to Change California to a Part-Time Legislature
- Least Is Best: A Guide To Minimalist Running Shoes – Least Is Best: A Guide To Minimalist Running Shoes
- Capitol Alert: New report finds low college attendance by California Latinos – New report finds low college attendance by California Latinos
- New report finds low college attendance by California Latinos – While California’s Latino population is growing, and is likely to become the state’s largest ethnic group within a few years, only a tiny percentage of Latinos are seeking and receiving college educations, according to a new data compilation by the Campaign for College Opportunity.
The Los Angeles-based organization says in a new report that while 57 percent of Latino students graduated from high school in 2009 – markedly lower graduation rates than those for white or Asian American students – just 16 percent graduated with the course requirements for the state’s four-year colleges, and just 8 percent enrolled in one of those colleges.
The bottom line, the organization says, is that just 7 percent of California’s Latinos 25 years or older have baccalaureate degrees, while 30 percent of all Californians have at least bachelor’s degrees.
- President 2012 GOP Poll Watch: Romney’s Lead Decreases – Republicans Want Santorum and Gingrich in the Race | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – President 2012 GOP Poll Watch: Romney’s Lead Decreases – Republicans Want Santorum and Gingrich in the Race
- CA-26: Julia Brownley Supported by Pro-Abortion EMILY’s List | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – CA-26: Julia Brownley Supported by Pro-Abortion EMILY’s List
- AD-38: Democrat Edward Headington Offers Republicans in California Assembly Race a Challenge » Flap’s California Blog – AD-38: Democrat Edward Headington Offers Republicans in California Assembly Race a Challenge
- Poll Watch: United States Economic Confidence the Best in Four Years | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Poll Watch: United States Economic Confidence the Best in Four Years
- Flap’s California Morning Collection: March 13, 2012 » Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s California Morning Collection: March 13, 2012
- The Morning Flap: March 13, 2012 | Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – The Morning Flap: Mach 13, 2012
- Santorum wins Ala., Miss.; Romney takes Hawaii – A resurgent Rick Santorum swept primaries in Alabama and Mississippi Tuesday night, upending the race for the Republican presidential nomination yet again and nudging Newt Gingrich toward the sidelines.
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Day By Day March 14, 2012 – My Kung Fu is Strong
Chris, it has been very quiet on the name-calling, hypocrisy-laden LEFT after the Limbaugh-Fluke flap, no?The White House has drawn back and notice that President Obama’s political guru, David Axelrod cancelled an appearance on the Bill Maher HBO show.
Feeling pressure in the wake of the Rush Limbaugh-Sandra Fluke controversy, Bill Maher recently said he could say disgusting things about Sarah Palin and other women because he’s on HBO and doesn’t have sponsors.
Apparently the White House doesn’t completely agree, for according to Politico, David Axelrod, one of Obama’s right-hand men, has cancelled an upcoming appearance on Maher’s Real Time:
David Axelrod will not be appearing as a guest on “Real Time with Bill Maher,” despite reports last week that he was scheduled to do the show in the next few weeks.
“He’s not scheduled to go on at this time,” said Ben LaBolt, the press secretary for President Obama’s reelection campaign.
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@Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-14
- How does Santorum poll against Obama in Virginia, Ohio and Florida? #
- But, didn't we know that Mitt Romney was a very "WEAK" frontrunner? Newt won't quit so on we go…. #
- What is Mittens going to offer Newt to STAY IN? #
- How much did Romney spend in these two states = $2 Million and comes in third? Not a closer and not a nominee #
- Looks like Mittens will be an o'fer tonight. Since Newt will stay in, chances of brokered GOP Convention just increased. On to Illinois… #
- California media buyers are delightfully warming up in the bullpen…. #
- Mitt Romney is not doing very well tonight…. #
- Encyclopedia Britannica to stop printing books http://t.co/PqJ4Y9uF #
- CBO boosts its Obamacare Medicaid cost estimate http://t.co/b23KJn7H #
- LA Times Profiles Jon Fleischman's Flash Report; Fleischman Admits to Being a Monkey http://t.co/kvrTlbfI #
- Race Day Tracking : LA Marathon http://t.co/fZOuI1zn #
- Capitol Alert: New report finds low college attendance by California Latinos http://t.co/h2nTh7wt #
- Los Angeles Marathon race day tracking now available here: http://t.co/MdNiFfDa Twitter, Facebook, E-mail or Text #
- Capitol Alert: New report finds low college attendance by California Latinos http://t.co/xqPtW2Fj #
- Michael Reagan to Aid in California Initiative to Change California to a Part-Time Legislature » Flap's California Blog http://t.co/ki1iZt5S #
- I'm tweeting HONDA LA Marathon times for Gregory Cole in real time on race day. Brought to you by HONDA LA Marathon #
- Capitol Alert: New report finds low college attendance by California Latinos http://t.co/e25IZIH2 #
- Michael Reagan to Aid in California Initiative to Change California to a Part-Time Legislature http://t.co/G1h2manl #
- New report finds low college attendance by California Latinos http://t.co/BQgeTJ4F #
- President 2012 GOP Poll Watch: Romney’s Lead Decreases – Republicans Want Santorum and Gingrich in the Race http://t.co/eX1dyIkQ #
- CA-26: Julia Brownley Supported by Pro-Abortion EMILY’s List | Flap's Blog – FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog http://t.co/UjavPSO8 #
- AD-38: Democrat Edward Headington Offers Republicans in California Assembly Race a Challenge » Flap's California Blog http://t.co/tcK18FS6 #
- Poll Watch: United States Economic Confidence the Best in Four Years | Flap's Blog – FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog http://t.co/WRLcy6CW #
- CA-26: Julia Brownley Supported by Pro-Abortion EMILY’s List http://t.co/L1E1uSbp #
- AD-38: Democrat Edward Headington Offers Republicans in California Assembly Race a Challenge http://t.co/RkZw6GZ1 #
- Poll Watch: United States Economic Confidence the Best in Four Years http://t.co/MwdcKCFs #
- Flap’s California Morning Collection: March 13, 2012 » Flap's California Blog http://t.co/0Ol4FIh9 #
- The Morning Flap: March 13, 2012 | Flap's Blog – FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog http://t.co/RX2gocKv #
- Flap’s California Morning Collection: March 13, 2012 http://t.co/DlEf387X #
- Protests, attacks hit Afghanistan in wake of massacre http://t.co/ZmsAf2aR #
- The Morning Flap: Mach 13, 2012 http://t.co/64xkUZlM #
- Specter says Obama ditched him after he provided 60th vote to pass health reform http://t.co/SmsN7iqh #
- California's Greek Tragedy – http://t.co/7okzcU8P http://t.co/HvYK8owp #
- The Morning Drill: March 13, 2012 http://t.co/tkyvamBc #
- Day By Day March 13, 2012 – Charge It http://t.co/QZxFzoZQ #
- Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-13 http://t.co/a5ViKiRu #
- McGurn: Bill Maher's 'Fatwa' – http://t.co/7okzcU8P http://t.co/I2DZhG5U #
- Republican Donors in Limbo http://t.co/VdoA0vRe #
- A Mere 80% Say They’re Not Better Off Than Four Years Ago http://t.co/2X6iuWcC #
- Did GDP and the Unemployment Rate Become De-linked? http://t.co/n6o9OLoN #
- Father And Daughter Run 100th Marathon Together http://t.co/jXrvROLl #
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-13 | Flap's Blog – FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog http://t.co/4gFGtz5x #
- @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-03-13 http://t.co/siP8gKbI #
- AD-38: Scott Wilk Wins Santa Clarita Valley Republican Assembly Straw Poll » Flap's California Blog http://t.co/d6GsGKxE #
- AD-38: Scott Wilk Wins Santa Clarita Valley Republican Assembly Straw Poll http://t.co/DFYsZPiJ #
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