I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.
For those of you still connected to the tubes, what do you have to share? Lots of races, lots of positioning, and lots of Dems overwhelming the GOP in primary numbers.
Several developing developments to close out your week today.
The Dump Denham folks are turning in 50,000 signatures in support of the effort. Just over 31,000 valid signatures are required to qualify. Seems that we should start getting geared up for this one.
Rep. Waxman is continuing the agitation on the California EPA waiver, dropping subpoenas for documents reviewed by the EPA before rejecting California emission regulations.
Sacramento Bee’s Ed Board weighs in on the double bubble trouble and is none too pleased with Los Angeles County’s screwy ballots or acting Registrar Dean Logan. (full disclosure: I work for the Courage Campaign)
55 people were indicted over welfare fraud that snagged millions in a scheme centered around fake child care facilities in and around Los Angeles.
Speaking of Los Angeles, I’ll be there tomorrow for no particular reason and with nothing particular to do. Or as Bran Van 3000 says
But we did nothing, absolutely nothing that day, and I say:
What the hell am I doing drinking in L.A. at 26?
I got the fever for the flavor, the payback will be later, still I need a fix.
Post whatever you want here.
Arnold’s daughter is also voting for Obama.
(Bumped to make sure you remember to check out the Calitics Show at 7:30. – promoted by Brian Leubitz)
As I said yesterday, we were hoping for some special guests on tonights Calitics Show, and it looks like we can confirm one of those guests. Eric Garcetti is the President of the Los Angeles City Council and a Barack Obama supporter. We’ll talk a little about the 2008 campaign and other issues of import to Californians or those who just want to be Californians.
If you would like to talk to us or to Councilman Garcetti, you can check out our show page here. From that site, once the show goes live at 7:30, you’ll be able to use “Click to Talk” with your computer’s microphone (and a headset for best quality), or you can call in to our show’s phone number. Pretty spiffy.
And one other random item of note, before I open this up. Apparently Mitt Romney is going all out to score some momentum in California. Good stuff. This is an open thread.
Our server had a few problems, but we're back up at full speed. We were down for a little less than four hours, it appears due to a failed power supply on our server. Technology, huh?
Anyway, any open thoughts?
Barack Obama has decisively won the South Carolina primary over Hillary Clinton and John Edwards. At this point, all that remains to be seen is how far Clinton will fall back of Obama. Edwards likely third place finish will surely be a big disappointment.
So, how does this affect California’s February 5 primary? Surely there will be some kind of SC bump for Obama, but will it be enough to challenge Clinton who was running solidly ahead as of last week’s Field Poll. And with vote-by-mail turnout being pretty low up to this point, were people waiting for this election before casting their votes. What do you think? Did this affect your vote?
Earlier this week, our Governor sat down with members of the LA Times staff and lamented the impetuous naiveté of his youth (2003):
In that campaign, he labeled many state legislators as inept. Now, he spoke of how it would be a “disaster” for term limits to force some of the same politicians from their offices. He scoffed at the notion that ridding the state of the “waste, fraud and abuse” he railed against in his early days would actually do much to help California’s finances. He no longer insists that the state’s troubled schools can be repaired without spending more.
“I have learned a lot of things where I felt one way before I went into office, and all of a sudden you learn things are not quite this way and you change,” he said. “People call it flip-flopping. I would rather flip-flop when I see something is a wrong idea than get stuck with it and stay with it and [keep making] the same mistake.”
Consider this your weekend Open Thread for Quick Hit comments, recipes for electoral victory, ruminations on how things got so bad/good, tips for me at the club tonight. I’ll be seeing Yeasayer. Observe this visual representation of their song “2080” which should, if you’re alive, make your socks go up and down.
UPDATE: from the previous open thread’s comments: (brian): IndyMedia convention in Santa Cruz continues over the weekend. Sounds quite interesting.
I found Yeasayer via Said The Gramaphone back in May and would just like to mention that it’s about DAMN time they made it to San Diego.
On the back of one song, Yeasayer have become my biggest discovery of the year so far. We all often hear music we like – catchy melodies, clasped lyrics. (I share such stuff with you here.) But the rarer feeling is to be exhilarated by something. To feel in a song a promise: the suggestion of a bigger, wider, longer song that’s as yet unsung. Stepping into an empty street and smelling the pepper fragrance of a fire.
“2080” is Fleetwood Mac, Akron/Family, Paul Simon, Arcade Fire, Cree chant, schoolyard song. It’s dancing alone under a streetlight, in your room with the lights on, or in a club on those hot strange first hours of the new year. It’s a night garden. It’s a pop song. It’s soft rock, New Wave, and art music. It’s got heart-thump drums, distant xylophone, clarinet, guitars, voices in harmony. It’s got piano and backwards-playing tape. It’s got the kitchen sink — and all these things under starlight.
I haven’t heard Yeasayer’s (upcoming) album. I haven’t seen them live. All I know is that “2080” is a string of good ideas, a necklace of a hundred rubies. It’s weird and great and not like the work of any other band I can think of. There is something in its beauty & boldness that makes me very, very excited; like I’ve stung my finger on a rose-thorn.
After February 5, I will be embarking upon a redesign of the website. It’s kinda been getting bogged down recently, so a fresh coat of paint could do us some good. In the interim, I’ve moved the “Menu” from the right hand side beneath the Premium Ads to the left hand side right beneath the logo and combined it with the About box.
So, let me know what ideas you have, either email me or post a comment. Consider this an open thread, as we’ve not been doing enough of those lately.
How could one pass up writing a blog post with that headline?
This Wiegand column explains:
You might think California legislators have enough on their plates without worrying about enemas.
More specifically, licensing people who give other people enemas, for money.
Weigand ended the piece with this groaner
And the committee, having done its doody, moved on.
And the committee, having done its doody, moved on.
This is an open thread, so don’t feel required to talk about potty humor. Music video on the flip.
Here is my ten year old cousin’s new favorite band, The New Pornographers singing “Challengers”. And yes Neko Case is awesome.
Right-wing’s greatest hits quotes part MXVXXXIII:
“We’ve been attacked by the intelligent, educated segment of the culture.” –Ray Mummert, pastor, Dover, PA
update: part MXVXXXIV:
“I’m finding out that every issue is more complicated than I thought.” –Jerry Sanders (R), Mayor of San Diego