• Del.icio.us Links

    links for 2010-11-17

    • Enacting one of the nation's most aggressive environmental measures, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to ban plastic grocery bags in unincorporated areas of the county.

      The vote was 3-1, supported by Supervisors Gloria Molina, Mark Ridley-Thomas, and Zev Yaroslavsky, and opposed by Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich. Supervisor Don Knabe was absent.
      The ban, which will cover nearly 1.1 million residents countywide, is to the point: “No store shall provide to any customer a plastic carryout bag.” An exception would be made for plastic bags that are used to hold fruit, vegetables or raw meat in order to prevent contamination with other grocery items.

      If grocers choose to offer paper bags, they must sell them for 10 cents each, according to the ordinance.
      +++++
      Radical environmentalism and more nanny statism in California

    • At a private meeting on Tuesday afternoon, George Soros, a longtime supporter of progressive causes, voiced blunt criticism of the Obama administration, going so far as to suggest that Democratic donors direct their support somewhere other than the president.

      The Hungarian-American financier was speaking to a small side gathering of donors who had convened in Washington D.C. for the annual gathering of the Democracy Alliance — a formal community of well-funded, progressive-minded individuals and activists.
      ++++++
      George Soros throws Obama under the bus.

    • On the night of the midterm elections earlier this month, Sarah Palin stayed up until 3 in the morning. From her hotel bedroom in Manhattan, she and her husband, Todd, followed the returns while she wrote e-mails on her iPad — congratulating winners, consoling losers — while reading others from people who wanted her to know that they had cast their vote for her daughter Bristol on “Dancing With the Stars” the evening before. Like much of her recent life, Palin’s day had been replete with reminders of the clout she had rapidly acquired.
      ++++++
      Read it all
      (tags: sarah_palin)
    • But the jet-setting billionaire says he's is not daunted by the long haul. He has pledged to invest at least $20 million of his own fortune into a new organization aimed at realizing a long-term vision for improving California's system of governance.

      "How much time will it take? Years," Berggruen said in an interview with The Bee editorial board today. "Luckily we are still reasonably energetic, and so we will be at this for years."

      The private investing company chairman has invited an ideologically diverse group of political power-hitters to join him on the "Think Long Committee for California," a new effort launched as part of his nonpartisan think tank. The panel's brain trust includes former Gov. Gray Davis, former Assembly Speakers Willie Brown and Robert Hertzberg, Google CEO Eric Schmidt, philanthropist and investor Eli Broad, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor executive secretary-treasurer Maria Elena Durazo
      +++++
      Sounds like left-wing political takeover to me.

    • The election is over, and the record-shattering $140 million she personally invested in her failed run for governor is gone. But Meg Whitman still faces one unsettled score.

      Today, the billionaire must answer to a claim that she owes Nicky Diaz Santillan, her former undocumented housekeeper, $6,210 in alleged unpaid wages and mileage.

      Diaz Santillan, who worked for nine years in Whitman's home, will appear at a state Department of Industrial Relations office in San Jose to make her case that the defeated Republican candidate owes her money. The conference is closed to the public.
      ++++++
      Now, shouldn't she be arrested and then deported?

      (tags: Meg_Whitman)
    • It seems everyone wants a piece of Palin these days. Some are fans, some are hostile foes. But regardless, we just can't stop talking about her. Will there ever be a time when we decide that we've figured her out and there's nothing else to say?

      And then it hit me. The reason Palin has become such a lightening rod, a kingmaker and a punching bag, a celebrity and a power player, is simple. It's because she's so gosh darn happy.

      For her fans, like the ones I had the pleasure of meeting in Chicago, she's refreshingly upbeat and resilient, the bubbly friend from childhood who was always great at cheering you up and cheerleading you on.

      But for her detractors, nothing raises the ire of cynical liberals more than a happy-go-lucky, totally unburdened, freethinking and self-assured conservative woman who has everything she wants and then some. And without anyone's help.
      ++++++++
      Absolutely correct and what irked the Left with Reagan

      (tags: sarah_palin)
    • Sarah Palin's daughter Bristol won through to the final of hit US show "Dancing with the Stars", bouyed by public support in defiance of judges' skepticism about her dance floor talents.

      As her mother continues to shine in the political spotlight, the 20-year-old is enjoying the media limelight generated by her unexpected success on the hugely popular TV talent show.

      Palin was again ranked last by judges in the semi-final of the show, in which celebrities partner with professional dancers, but voting by viewers pushed her score with partner Mark Ballas up into third place.
      ++++++
      Congrats Bristol!

  • Rudy Giuliani,  Sarah Palin

    Sarah Palin Video: I Believe I Can Beat Barack Obama

    Is there now any doubt that Sarah Palin will roll the dice and run for President in 2012?

    Sarah Palin says she is seriously considering a run for the White House, and she believes she could beat President Obama in 2012, the former Alaska governor told ABC News’ Barbara Walters.

    “I’m looking at the lay of the land now, and … trying to figure that out, if it’s a good thing for the country, for the discourse, for my family, if it’s a good thing,” Palin said in an interview scheduled to air in full Dec. 9 on ABC as part of Walters’ “10 Most Fascinating People” of 2010.

    Asked Walters: “If you ran for president, could you beat Barack Obama?”

    “I believe so,” Palin said.

    Also, today there is this somewhat favorable profile of Team Sarah in the New York Times, no less

    As I said before, Sarah will keep her powder dry, prepare to run and run if President Obama’s poll numbers continue in the tank in key battleground Midwest states.

    I doubt she will have little trouble defeating Mitt Romney in Iowa, South Carolina and Florida in any contested GOP primary elections. Mitt Romney would likely win New Hampshire but with Rudy Giuliani at her side should be able to sweep the Northeast GOP primaries and California – if the GOP contest continues that late.

    What does Sarah Palin have to lose, really?

    Barack Obama or any incumbent President will be difficult at best to beat. Expectations to beat Obama will be low.

    If Palin runs and loses the GOP nomination, she can write more books and make a comeback ala Nixon and Reagan in later years. If she loses to Obama, she will be the front runner for the 2016 Presidential race where there will be no incumbent.

    I say Sarah Palin runs.

  • California Republican Party

    Memo to the California Republican Party: Time to Change?

    Well, the California Republican Party (CRP) unlike the rest of the country did not perform well in this year’s elections. In fact, it appears the CA GOP lost every statewide race from Governor to Insurance Commissioner.

    The California Democratic Party will continue to control the California Legislature as they have for decades (except for a few years) since World War II.

    So, what should California Republicans do?

    There have been suggestions from Democrat, left-leaning mainstream media types to change it up and betray, I mean modify, party principles.

    Why?

    The GOP’s principles of smaller government, lower taxes, individual liberty and freedom, strong defense and less government are winners nationally and successful. The national GOP won back a majority in the House and made significant inroads into the super majority of a Democrat controlled U.S. Senate. Since World War II, the Republican Party has held the White House more than the Democrats.

    Election 2010 was an overwhelming success for the Republican Party  – except in California.

    Again, why?

    The short answer is demographics.

    I don’t have to beat the drum about ethnic voting blocks in California. It is painfully evident in the election results and will continue to be in statewide California elections.

    California Republicans will have to be patient and wait until the Democrat super majorities run California into a ditch (which they will) and then pick up the pieces incrementally (independent commission redistricting next year will help), nurture their officeholders in California red areas, and recruit new candidates from the professions, business and industry who wish to serve. In the short term, they may also have to concede California as a deep blue Democratic state and fundraise/support Republican candidates from outside the state. After all, the Democratic Party nationally has become a two state regional party anyway.

    But, sacrificing or selling out one’s principles by becoming Republican Lite or moderate Democrats is a non-starter.

    Then, there really will be NO alternative to California Democrats who trend LEFT.

    The California Republican Party will make a come back and win more elections because the principles are RIGHT. The CRP should stay the course.

  • Dream Act

    The DREAM ACT Redo – Melt the Phones

    telephoneoperators57762 Showdown in the Senate: Stop the DREAM ACT   Harry Reid Schedules Senate Vote for Today 2:15 PM

    Melt the Phones, Patriots

    President Obama and the lame duck Democrat Congressional leadership are bringing back the Dream Act for a vote. We stopped it before and we must stop it again – so melt the phones, patriots.

    Call these GOP Senators and let them know how you feel about this illegal alien amnesty plan:

    As I told you yesterday and as I’ve been telling you for, oh, years, the shamnesty crowd is counting on open-borders Republicans to drag the DREAM Act illegal alien student bailout across the legislative finish line.

    Here’s a handy phone list of target Senate Republicans. Use and share:

    Sen. Murkowski of Alaska 202-224-6665
    907-271-3735

    Sen. Lugar of Indiana 202-224-4814
    317-226-5555

    Sen. Brownback of Kansas 202-224-6521
    785-233-2503

    Sen. Voinovich of Ohio 202-224-3353
    614-469-6697

    Sen. LeMeiux of Florida 202-224-3041
    904-398-8586

    Sen. Collins of Maine 202-224-2523
    207-945-0417

    Sen. Snowe of Maine 202-224-5344
    207-874-0883

    Sen. Brown of Massachusetts 202-224-4543
    617-565-3170

    Sen. Johanns of Nebraska 202-224-4224
    402-758-8981

    Sen. Gregg of New Hampshire 202-224-3324
    603-225-7115

    Sen. Hutchison of Texas 202-224-5922
    214-361-3500

    Sen. McCain of Arizona 202-224-2235
    480-897-6289

    Call the list today!

  • Democrats,  GOP

    Has the Democratic Party Become a Regional or Two State Party?


    Graphic Courtesy of Smart Politics

    Remember the harangue of the LEFT after President Obama’s win in 2008 that the GOP was a regional minority party?

    Well, as I said at the time, this is NOT true, but have the Democrats with the recent election have continued the trend of being a New York and California party – a two state party. Looking at the table above, you would have to say the evidence is clear.

    Despite losing six U.S. House seats in New York on November 2nd (with defeats in NY-01 and NY-25 still tentative), the Democratic Party nonetheless continues to be ever more a party of two coasts – with a particular emphasis on the Empire and Golden States.

    A Smart Politics analysis of 81 election cycles dating back to 1850 finds that the Democratic Party is now comprised of a larger percentage of Californians and New Yorkers in the U.S. House than at any point since California joined the Union.

    When the 112th Congress convenes in January, 28.1 percent of the Democratic caucus will hail from California (34 members) and New York (20 members).

    What will this mean for the 2012 Presidential and Congressional elections?

    Well, I don’t suppose too many campaign media dollars will be spent on statewide races in New York and California. And, any Presidential activity will be fundraising trips only.

    It also means will be easier for the GOP to maintain its majority in the House and look at taking the majority in the U.S. Senate.

    Now, New York and California still command a goodly number of Electoral College votes but Obama will have to win in the Midwest or he will be denied re-election.

    Funny how political demographic perceptions change but really stay the same.

  • Day By Day,  Nancy Pelosi

    Day By Day November 17, 2010 – Cinderella



    Day By Day by Chris Muir

    Chris, somehow I think that Sam will be drinking even more with Zed going to Afghanistan. 

    And, talk about fairy tales, look at Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her attempt to hold onto political power.

    The Democratic old guard will try to hold the line Wednesday against a rank-and-file rebellion intent on winning some concession — no matter how small — from a leadership team seeking reelection despite having presided over the loss of at least 60 Democratic seats earlier this month.

    The leadership election follows on the heels of a brutally long, contentious and divisive leadership meeting Tuesday, and it will determine not only whether Speaker Nancy Pelosi remains the head of the House Democratic contingent but just how much authority she will wield in the new Congress come January.

    Symbolism without substance will equal the continued morass for the Democrats with Nancy Pelosi in a leasdership position. She will have NO real power and younger Democrats will be stifled to change the perception of the party.

    It is all good for conservatives and the GOP.


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