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These are my links for June 21st through June 25th:

• Hill Poll: Voters: Obama over-reached blocking Fast and Furious docs- A clear majority of likely voters believes President Obama has exercised his executive power inappropriately — particularly in blocking the release of documents relating to Operation Fast and Furious, according to a new poll for The Hill.But in a sign that the electorate’s frustration extends to Capitol Hill, voters by a significant margin also feel Congress has behaved in an obstructionist manner toward the president.Amid the discontent over the behavior of both Obama and members of Congress, the poll found a strong preference among voters for a return to one-party rule in Washington.
• Pawlenty, Portman Finances Pose VP Vetting Challenge- With Mitt Romney’s vice presidential vetting process well under way, two of the likeliest contenders for the nod — Tim Pawlenty and Rob Portman — have some of the thickest financial backgrounds to comb through.Since dropping his own bid for president last August, Pawlenty has joined the boards of seven companies and serves as a senior adviser to another. Portman has a complicated financial history from a previous ownership stake in his family’s since-sold company, Portman Equipment, as well as numerous investments.Republican researchers familiar with both potential picks say neither the former Minnesota governor nor the Ohio senator presents major problems; still, the vetting process might be more involved for the two top contenders than it is for an array of other contenders who appear to be further down Romney’s list.

  Pawlenty appeared on CBS’s “Face the Nation” Sunday to say that he is not campaigning for the No. 2 spot. Nonetheless, he has been perhaps the highest-profile and most active surrogate on the campaign trail for Romney in recent months.

  Brian McClung, Pawlenty’s former spokesman and deputy chief of staff, told RCP: “Governor Pawlenty is focused on his business responsibilities and enjoys his work in the private sector. He helps Governor Romney’s campaign when his schedule permits.”

• Poll: Former Supreme Court clerks think the mandate is done for- A new poll of 56 former Supreme Court clerks finds that 57 percent think the individual mandate will be overturned. That’s a 22-point jump from the last time the same group of clerks was surveyed, right before oral arguments. Back then, 35 percent thought the court would toss out the required purchase of health insurance.Most of the clerks found the Supreme Court’s questioning to be more skeptical than they had expected. As one clerk put it to Purple Strategies’ Doug Usher, who conducted the research, “I feel like a dope, because I was one of those who predicted that the Court would uphold the statute by a lopsided majority…it now appears pretty likely that this prediction was way off.”That seems to capture the mood of the rest of the country, too. Over on InTrade, the estimated likelihood of the Supreme Court overturning the mandate has marched upward ever since oral arguments, hitting 79.9 percent Wednesday morning.
• For Obama, Supreme Court health-care, immigration rulings to close a tough term- The Supreme Court this week will conclude its term by handing down much-anticipated rulings on health care and immigration, President Obama’s remaining priorities before the justices. It is a finale that cannot come quickly enough for the administration, which has had a long year at the high court.In a string of cases — as obscure as the federal government’s relationships with Indian tribes and as significant as enforcement of the Clean Water Act — the court rejected the administration’s legal arguments with lopsided votes and sometimes biting commentary.The administration’s win-loss record will sting a lot less, of course, if the court upholds the constitutionality of Obama’s signature domestic achievement, the Affordable Care Act. That decision on health care, which will define the term, could come as early as Monday and almost certainly will be announced by Thursday.

  The court also will decide the fate of Arizona’s tough law on illegal immigrants, which the Obama administration challenged in court before it could take effect. The government’s argument that the law conflicts with the federal authority to decide immigration policy got a sour reception from the justices, but the government hopes for at least a split decision on other aspects of the measure.

  The administration’s ungainly portfolio at the Supreme Court this term has drawn attention from all points on the ideological spectrum.

• Poll: Immigration not Hispanics’ #1- American Hispanic voters are more concerned about health care and unemployment than they are about immigration, according to a new USA Today/Gallup poll.In fact, only 12 percent of Hispanic registered voters said that immigration policy is the most important issue to them.
• New YG Network Poll Shows Majority Favor Health Reform Repeal- A majority of Americans want the health care law completely or partially repealed and think the federal government should not be able to force citizens to buy insurance, according to a new poll from the YG Network, a center-right issues advocacy group whose senior staff are former aides to Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor.With the Supreme Court expected to rule as early as this week on the 2010 Affordable Care Act, the poll offers a glimpse into how Americans view the legislation.The poll, conducted between June 19 and June 21 by GOP pollsters McLaughlin & Associates surveyed 1,000 people with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. Respondents were split almost evenly in terms of their politics. Thirty-two percent were Republicans; 34 percent were Democrats and 29 percent were independents; 4.5 percent didn’t know or refused to reply.

  The survey sometimes referred to the Affordable Care Act as “Obamacare,” a term often used by critics of the law. The poll also tested a number of Republican talking points.

• Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s Comments On His Home, California – Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-06-24
• Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Flap’s Comments on Politics, the Dental World and Much More – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-06-24
• Gregory Flap @ I.B.E.W. Local 441 – foursquare – At the wife, Alice’s family reunion. (@ I.B.E.W. Local 441 w/ 2 others) [pic]:
• California Proposition 29 Tobacco Tax Rejected by Voters – California Proposition 29 Tobacco Tax Rejected by Voters
• Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s Comments On His Home, California – Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-06-23
• Ryan Being Vetted for VP – By Robert Costa – The Corner – National Review Online – Ryan Being Vetted for VP – By Robert Costa – The Corner – National Review Online
• Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Flap’s Comments on Politics, the Dental World and Much More – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-06-23
• Ryan Being Vetted for VP – By Robert Costa – The Corner – National Review Online – Ryan Being Vetted for VP – By Robert Costa – The Corner – National Review Online
• Ryan Being Vetted for VP – By Robert Costa – The Corner – National Review Online – Ryan Being Vetted for VP – By Robert Costa – The Corner – National Review Online
• Ryan Being Vetted for VP – By Robert Costa – The Corner – National Review Online – Ryan Being Vetted for VP – By Robert Costa – The Corner – National Review Online
• Ryan Being Vetted for VP – By Robert Costa – The Corner – National Review Online – Rep. Paul Ryan Being Vetted for Vice President
• Rep. Paul Ryan Being Vetted for Vice President- I’m reliably informed that Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, the Budget Committee chairman, has submitted paperwork to the Romney campaign. Sources confirm that he is being vetted for the vice-presidential nomination.Ryan, one of the GOP’s brightest young stars, is clearly a favorite of Romney allies. But some top Republican officials are wary of plucking him from the House, where he is the party’s most influential voice on fiscal issues.
• Obama’s White Support Is Too Low to Win- Today, the demographic status quo is not good for either candidate. The long-term future favors Democrats. The GOP must reconcile itself with the browning of America. But even in early 2009, amid renewed talk of an emerging Democratic majority, it was clear that demographics are not electoral destiny. That Democratic majority has not emerged over the past decade because Democrats have not made sustained inroads with the actual demographic majority.How quickly that proved true. In 2010, whites backed GOP House candidates by a 60-38 margin. It gave Republicans a historic landslide. The white margin two years ago roughly matches the break-even point today. That’s because presidential electorates are browner and blacker, though possibly not enough for Democrats. Plainly put, the data shows that Romney will likely win if he matches his party’s minority support in 2008 and its majority support in 2010.Democrats have come to depend on diversity. But even today, diversity may not prove enough to save Obama.
• Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Flap’s Comments on Politics, the Dental World and Much More – Michael Ramirez: I am NOT a Crook
• Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s Comments On His Home, California – Flap’s California Blog @ Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-06-22
• Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Flap’s Comments on Politics, the Dental World and Much More – @Flap Twitter Updates for 2012-06-22
• Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Flap’s Comments on Politics, the Dental World and Much More – Epic Fail – Back Down: Update: Back Up! Twitter is Down and All is Quiet
• Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Flap’s Comments on Politics, the Dental World and Much More – Update: Back Up! Twitter is Down and All is Quiet
• Twitter is Down and All is Quiet – Flap’s Blog – Twitter is Down and All is Quiet
• AD-48: Assemblyman Roger Hernandez to Stand Trial for DUI Charges – AD-48: Assemblyman Roger Hernandez to Stand Trial for DUI Charges
• The Morning Flap: June 21, 2012 – Flap’s Blog – The Morning Flap: June 21, 2012
• Senator Marco Rubio Says Attorney General Eric Holder Must Resign – Senator Marco Rubio Says Attorney General Eric Holder Must Resign
• Flap’s California Morning Collection: June 21, 2012 – Flap’s California Blog – Flap’s California Morning Collection: June 21, 2012
• Flap’s Dentistry Blog: The Morning Drill: June 21, 2012 – The Morning Drill: June 21, 2012
• Flap’s Blog – FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog – Flap’s Comments on Politics, the Dental World and Much More – Day By Day June 21, 2012 – Dress Up

These are my links for July 13th from 10:43 to 10:47:

• Republicans Fail to Pick up Democratic Seat in 200th Consecutive California U.S. House Race – The California GOP has not picked up a Democratic held U.S. House seat in general or special elections since 1998

  Democrat Janice Hahn's special election victory over Craig Huey in California's 36th Congressional District Tuesday evening continues a more than decade long string of futility on the part of California Republicans in their attempt to pick up a Democratic held U.S. House seat.

  A Smart Politics historical review of California election returns finds that Democrats have now successfully held 200 consecutive seats in general and special elections conducted after the Election of 1998.

  Although Hahn was criticized by some for running a traditional campaign in a non-traditional election year and matchup, she was able to notch a 9.1-point victory over the conservative businessman who surprised many by eking out a second place finish in May in the heavily Democratic district.

  The 36th CD has been vacant since late February when nine-term Democrat Jane Harman resigned to head the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

  Democrats have now held their California U.S. House seats in 192 consecutive general election races over the last the last six cycles plus eight seats in special election races they have had to defend since 1999.

  But while the Republicans are currently suffering through a 0-200 stretch in pick up attempts, Democrats have won seven GOP-held seats in the Golden State out of 125 general and special election matchups during this 13-year period, or a 6 percent pick-up rate.

  Democrats won five Republican seats in 2000 (CA-15, 27, 31, 36, and 49), one in 2002 (CA-39) and one in 2006 (CA-11).

  Californians are now making up a larger and larger percentage of the Democratic caucus in Congress – currently resting at 18 percent (34 of 193 members), which marks the largest percentage in the history of the state.

  ======

  California is deeply blue like New York and Massachusetts.

• President 2012: Tim Pawlenty says there’s no scientific conclusion that being gay is genetic – Pawlenty said "there's no scientific conclusion that (being gay) is genetic." On that specific question, we found broad agreement that Pawlenty was correct. Scientists told us that genetics may play a role in determining sexual orientation, but the current evidence suggests that it’s not the dominant factor and may ultimately be shown to play just a modest role.

  But a modest role is still different from no role. And we also think that viewers of the interview might be led to believe that because homosexuality is not primarily caused by genes, there’s no biological cause. In reality, most scientists do believe that sexual orientation is caused by biology, rather than by choice. On balance, we rate Pawlenty’s statement Mostly True.

These are my links for July 13th from 10:43 to 10:47:

• Republicans Fail to Pick up Democratic Seat in 200th Consecutive California U.S. House Race – The California GOP has not picked up a Democratic held U.S. House seat in general or special elections since 1998

  Democrat Janice Hahn's special election victory over Craig Huey in California's 36th Congressional District Tuesday evening continues a more than decade long string of futility on the part of California Republicans in their attempt to pick up a Democratic held U.S. House seat.

  A Smart Politics historical review of California election returns finds that Democrats have now successfully held 200 consecutive seats in general and special elections conducted after the Election of 1998.

  Although Hahn was criticized by some for running a traditional campaign in a non-traditional election year and matchup, she was able to notch a 9.1-point victory over the conservative businessman who surprised many by eking out a second place finish in May in the heavily Democratic district.

  The 36th CD has been vacant since late February when nine-term Democrat Jane Harman resigned to head the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

  Democrats have now held their California U.S. House seats in 192 consecutive general election races over the last the last six cycles plus eight seats in special election races they have had to defend since 1999.

  But while the Republicans are currently suffering through a 0-200 stretch in pick up attempts, Democrats have won seven GOP-held seats in the Golden State out of 125 general and special election matchups during this 13-year period, or a 6 percent pick-up rate.

  Democrats won five Republican seats in 2000 (CA-15, 27, 31, 36, and 49), one in 2002 (CA-39) and one in 2006 (CA-11).

  Californians are now making up a larger and larger percentage of the Democratic caucus in Congress – currently resting at 18 percent (34 of 193 members), which marks the largest percentage in the history of the state.

  ======

  California is deeply blue like New York and Massachusetts.

• President 2012: Tim Pawlenty says there’s no scientific conclusion that being gay is genetic – Pawlenty said "there's no scientific conclusion that (being gay) is genetic." On that specific question, we found broad agreement that Pawlenty was correct. Scientists told us that genetics may play a role in determining sexual orientation, but the current evidence suggests that it’s not the dominant factor and may ultimately be shown to play just a modest role.

  But a modest role is still different from no role. And we also think that viewers of the interview might be led to believe that because homosexuality is not primarily caused by genes, there’s no biological cause. In reality, most scientists do believe that sexual orientation is caused by biology, rather than by choice. On balance, we rate Pawlenty’s statement Mostly True.

These are my links for June 28th from 08:24 to 09:02:

• Simi, Moorpark formally oppose congressional redistricting plan – The cities of Simi Valley and Moorpark on Monday formally urged the California Citizens Redistricting Commission to rethink its proposal to place them in a congressional district that includes parts of Los Angeles County.

  The Simi Valley City Council adopted a resolution to that effect. Moorpark Mayor Janice Parvin sent a letter to the commission outlining her opposition.

  The Simi council's resolution also urged the commission to modify its proposal to place about 2,000 Simi residents in a different congressional district than the rest of the city.

  "To lop us off makes no sense whatsoever," Mayor Bob Huber said at a special meeting of the council he convened Monday morning because of what he said was the urgency of the matter. "It's just so wrong what they're doing. My strong feeling is we keep the whole county together."

  Noting the city has previously expressed its opposition to the proposals in letters to the commission, Huber said, "I think we need something a little stronger like an actual resolution that they can see and understand how strong we feel."

• Bachmann is so not ready for presidency, but Pawlenty has the judgment and skills – In early 2012, Iowans in all 99 counties will bundle up, brave the cold night air, and join neighbors and fellow Republicans in casting their vote for the next president of the United States. Being Iowa, many caucus attendees will have personally met some or all of the candidates, will have had a chance to participate in town hall meetings, to ask questions, and to compare backgrounds and experience in this crucial race for the White House.

  I, too, have gotten to know some of the candidates. It is safe to say that I am one of just a handful of people who have worked closely with two of the candidates for president.

  As the former chairman of the Minnesota Republican Party during the tenure of Gov. Tim Pawlenty, as well as the former chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, I have watched both candidates from behind the public scene. I've seen how they handle the pressures of the job; I've seen how they lead a staff; and I've seen how they would govern if elected to the most powerful office in the world.

  Having seen the two of them, up close and over a long period of time, it is clear to me that while Tim Pawlenty possesses the judgment, the demeanor, and the readiness to serve as president, Michele Bachmann decidedly does not.

  =======

  The long knives are out for Michele Bachmann. But, will it roll off of her back or will the real beneficiary be Mitt Romney?

• President 2012: Michele Bachmann accepts Chris Wallace’s apology – In an interview by Sean Hannity’s last night, Rep. Michele Bachmann said she had gotten a call early last evening from Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace, who apologized for the way he put the “flake” question during Sunday’s interview. She recounted that she was happy to accept the apology and that “we’re moving on.”

  ======

  Move along….

These are my links for June 12th from 14:41 to 14:48:

• Romney camp responds to Pawlenty’s "ObamneyCare" dig – Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty issued his sharpest attack against presumed Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney on the eve of the GOP debate in New Hampshire on Monday, tying the former Massachusetts governor to President Obama's health care overhaul.
  In the process, he coined a term likely to dominate his stump speches and the debate: "ObamneyCare."
  "President Obama said that he designed Obamacare after Romneycare and basically made it ObamneyCare," Pawlenty said on "Fox News Sunday." "What I don’t understand is that they both continue to defend it."

  It didn't take long for Romney's campaign to respond to what will certainly become a common critique among Republican contenders.

  "Republicans should keep the focus on President Obama's failure to create jobs and control spending," Romney campaign spokesman Ryan Williams said in an e-mail to The Washington Examiner. "People are looking for leadership on the economy and the budget. Mitt Romney wants to be that leader."
  The aggressive message is an about-face for Pawlenty, who essentially vowed not to throw elbows, but has failed to gain significant traction in the polls. It could also set the stage for a feisty GOP debate, the first in which Romney has participated, Monday in Manchester.

• California smash-up: Redistricting winners and losers – The GOP Losers:

  Rep. Jeff Denham

  Denham is positioned to run in a Stanislaus County district that’s far less GOP friendly than the seat he currently holds. Denham can also take one for the team and run against either Democratic Rep. Dennis Cardoza or Democratic Rep. Jim Costa. But that would pit him against a sitting incumbent in a Democratic-leaning district – which doesn’t sound too appealing.

  Rep. Jerry Lewis

  Lewis, a 17-term veteran, has been at the top of retirement watch lists – doing little fundraising and not committing to run for reelection. But the new lines could add some fuel to his tank, with the commission drawing up a new Republican-friendly Inland Empire seat that would seem to fit Lewis perfectly.

  Rep. Elton Gallegly

  There’s no denying that Gallegly is in a tough spot. Under the draft map, Gallegly is drawn into a Los Angeles-area with powerful House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon. Some Republican officials are privately suggesting that Gallegly could alternatively run in a Democratic-oriented Central Valley district, but neither option seems great for the 67-year-old congressman.

  Rep. David Dreier

  Things look bleak for Dreier, the 16-term House Rules Committee chair who’s been placed in a Democratic-leaning, Latino-majority seat that makes him ripe for a challenge. Dreier could alternatively run for a nearby Ontario-based district, but that would put him in firmly Democratic territory. One option some Republicans suggest: Dreier could work out a deal with Lewis and run for the Inland Empire seat. But Dreier has raised little money, and the new lines are bound to increase speculation that he’s looking to throw in the towel.

  Rep. Gary Miller

  Miller faces few good options. He’s been drawn into the same heavily Asian American and Democratic-oriented seat as Democratic Rep. Judy Chu – a no-go for him. Miller could try to run against fellow GOP Rep. John Campbell for an Orange County-based district, but that seems like a stretch because Campbell would have plenty of his own money to spend.

  Rep. Dan Lungren 

  Lungren, who’s already on Democratic target lists, just became that much more vulnerable. The nine-term congressman has been drawn into a slightly GOP-leaning, Sacramento-area seat that offers him less protection against Democratic physician Ami Bera, who’s running against Lungren again after waging a strong challenge last year. This race goes to the top of the watch list.

• California’s dropout numbers signal big crisis – The bedrock goal of any public elementary and high school system should be awarding high school diplomas to as many youngsters as possible.

  Therefore, one might expect that with the tens of billions of dollars California spends each year to educate 6 million kids, and with the vital role schools play in the state's social, political and economic health, we'd know how we're doing.

  However, we don't know. We use several methodologies to estimate graduation rates and their counterpart, dropout rates. But hard data are lacking, a statewide computerized student tracking system that's supposed to provide concrete numbers is incomplete, and Gov. Jerry Brown wants to eliminate its appropriation.

  So we are left with inexact methodologies that give us approximate numbers. As fuzzy as they may be, they still indicate that California has a big-time dropout problem.

  =======

  Why?

  Illegal immigration and the children do not speak English. There is no reason for them to learn and assimilate in school.

  It will cost $ billions to educate the children of immigrant workers, while productive citizens and companies leave California due to high taxaton and regulatory costs.