Links:

• Capitol Weekly points out something that Paul Hogarth mentioned during the CA-10 campaign: Garamendi’s replacement will have a big impact upon off-shore oil drilling.

• No internet poker bill this year. To say that California passing internet poker would piss off other state governments is putting it mildly. We’d be attracting gambling dollars from the other 49 states.  The online “gaming” lobby had made the most traction in California, but for practical purposes, they really don’t need it to be California. ANy other state would likely work just as well.

• Ethics probes galore into former Assemblyman Duvall’s conduct, specifically whether he traded votes for sex. Incidentally, Jeff Miller (R-Orange & Riverside Counties) was the grayed out Assembly member. I don’t know what his ties to the OC/Norby power play are, but he certainly makes a good suspect for the “leak.” The OC Register has a cleaner version (well, better AV anyway) of the Cal-Channel discussion, embedded here. Miller was apparently enjoying the conversation, at least enough to laugh at Duvall’s rather poor sense of humor. –>

• Steve Lopez had a great column yesterday showing the double standard of what constitutes “offensive” in this day and age.  In short, the only thing offensive is whatever challenges corporate power.

• Another semester is upon us, and it looks like students at UC-Irvine should get ready for another fee hike soon.

• I don’t know if we got to this, but it’s worth noting that union membership in Southern California has risen over the last two years, despite the recession.  Good news for working families.

• I’m thinking Gavin Newsom won’t be entirely pleased with this SF Weekly profile.

• California still has among the highest incidences of interest-only home loans in the country.  The pain has yet to subside, and when many of these reset shortly, it will only increase.

• The renewable power debate isn’t just as easy as trumpeting support for “green jobs.” It’s actually a rather complicated tangle of regulations, with issues like transmission throwing wrenches in the system.  And of course, everything is coming down to the last minute again in the Legislature.

• The memorial for Los Angeles firefighters killed in the line of duty will be held Saturday morning. Tangentially related, Senator Boxer’s house parties will be postponed until October so as not to compete with the service. Watch for a new date.

• That “Tea Party Express” outfit run by Yacht Party operative Howard Kaloogian is working with a group who were sued for killing 23 seniors in a bus fire during Hurricane Rita.  Good vetting over there.