So, I’m doing this one from the Phoenix airport, where I’m delayed due to the fact that U.S. Airways/AmericaWest/whatever they want to call themselves today really sucks. But on the bright side, they have free WiFi here. Also, we had a little down time this afternoon. Sorry about that.
This is a pretty long roundup, so let’s get straight to the teasers: Presidential primary chatter, Health care…um, we need it., George Runner is a tool (but we already knew that), Two speakers who kick ass: Nancy, and Fabian the blogger, Doolittle’s a changed man…kinda…sorta…well, not so much, Is Chuck DeVore on a witch terrorist hunt?, Maxine Waters wants us out of Iraq, Spocko’s on the rise, CalPERS is investing in urban sprawl, Frank Luntz is a liar, and Irvine has a budget surplus!
That, and a whole lot more over the flip.
Popularity Presidential Race
- Chris Dodd answered some questions at FireDogLake. I know, not strictly California, but with the Feb 5 primary looking more and more likely to occur, it’s best to start reviewing our choices. http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2007/01/blue-america-chat-with-chris-dodd-part.html
- Oh looky, Mary Bono endorsed Rudy Giuliani. Does that mean he will pay for her lease on her luxury vehicles. You know, it’s hard out there for a Congresswoman! http://www.thedesertsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070124/UPDATE02/70124022
- Some don’t like the Feb. 5 primary, like The Citizens. http://thecitizens.blogspot.com/2007/01/june-is-just-fine.html
- The veepstakes is over for Hillary. According to Nite Swimming and the Weekly World News, the former first lady has selected Bigfoot. A fine selection…maybe she’ll carry Alaska. http://niteswimming.blogspot.com/2007/01/sorry-bayh-and-clark-its-hillary.html
- Tom Gangale has a love/hate relationship with the Feb. 5 primary. http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/01/moving_the_cali.html
- Frank Russo doesn’t like the idea so much. http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/01/california_pres.html
- Kos likes it. http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/1/23/13228/0622
The Great Health Care Debate
- A new PPIC poll is out, and as usual, Frank Russo at CPR is all over it. The citizens of this state seem to be speaking with a pretty clear voice on health care: we need it. And we ALL need it. http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/01/californians_su.html
- Randy at California Notes noticed the new poll as well. Think about this one, where oh where, could we get a system that uses, um, about 97% of its funds on medical care and insures everybody. Oh, yeah, Medicare. You know, single payer health care for everybody over the age of 65. http://bayneofblog.blogspot.com/2007/01/education-about-single-payer-may-be-key.html
- And Bush’s health care plan? Todd Beeton (of Blog Roundup fame) notes that Pete Stark (D-Fremont, CA-13) says the plan is DOA and doesn’t plan hearings on the proposal. http://couragecampaign.org/entries/rep-peter-stark-ca-13th-on-bushs-healthcare-proposal/
- Doolittle thinks that we just need some more invisible hand. http://solongjohn.blogspot.com/2007/01/doolittle-weighs-in-on-schwarzeneggers.html
- Is John Garamendi, Jr, going to run in SD-05? http://surfputah.blogspot.com/2007/01/possible-wolk-garamendi-jr-race-in-5th.html
California Politicos
- George Runner is a tool. In addition to being the world’s foremost criminologist, he’s also a climate scientist. He’s determined through his own patented Runner’s Anecdotal Scientific Method that the weak 2006 Hurricane Season means that Global Warming is a hoax. http://gleic.blogspot.com/2007/01/george-runner-is-tool.html
- Hey Look! Doolittle is going to pay attention to his constituents! Sweet! http://solongjohn.blogspot.com/2007/01/kinder-gentler-doolittle-well-see.html
- More Doolittle. He voted for 9/11 recs, but voted against the rest of the 100 hours agenda. I’m not entirely sure why he voted against the minimum wage increase. It’s not like it affects California at all now that we raised the state minimum wage. http://solongjohn.blogspot.com/2007/01/doolittles-votes-on-first-100-hours.html
- D-day points out an Arnold interview saying, once again, how “important” his 2005 special election reforms were. The only problem was the method. Apparently, we all really support these deforms, but we just didn’t like voting on them. Or something. http://d-day.blogspot.com/2007/01/how-many-times.html
- Our Nancy kicks ass! http://arielpolitics.blogspot.com/2007/01/doing-it-democrat-style.html
- From Robert at Left in SF, The Leno/Migden fight may bring up some old scores that haven’t been settled. http://leftinsf.com/blog/index.php/archives/1538
- Some Umberg mailers from TheLiberalOC.com. http://www.theliberaloc.com/2007/01/23/new-dpoc-piece-for-umberg/
- There’s a lot of BS going around about Sally Lieber’s spanking bill. CA Majority Report says “Enough”! http://www.camajorityreport.com/index.php?module=articles&func=display&ptid=9&aid=1421
- Maxine Waters knows what to do in Iraq. Not be there! http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/1/25/102359/399
- Is Chuck DeVore a terrorist? Terroristssaywhat! http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/01/are_you_now_or.html
- Arnold:PostPartisan::BrianLeubitz:PostPartisan. http://www.camajorityreport.com/index.php?module=articles&func=display&ptid=9&aid=1425
- At least one GOP Rep still Hearts W. Yup, that’s you Dan Lungren. http://bayneofblog.blogspot.com/2007/01/dan-lungren-didnt-learn-thing.html
- Speaker Nunez is blogging from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. It’s cold there. http://www.camajorityreport.com/index.php?module=articles&func=display&ptid=9&aid=1426
- Jerry McNerney has an op-ed in the Stockton Record about the Democratic agenda in the 110th Congress. http://weblog.jerrymcnerney.com/2007/01/my_oped_in_the_.html
Miscellany
- Spocko makes the USA Today! http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/01/24/spocko-makes-it-to-the-pages-of-usa-today/
- Are you sick of Republicans saying “Democrat Party.” Me too, check out this handy thought experiment. http://democratparty.blogspot.com/
- People’s Vanguard of Davis says there’s something fishy on the Davis Housing Committee. http://davisvanguard.blogspot.com/2007/01/briefs.html
- In Ojai, some community leaders are coming together to oppose a new increase in mining. http://www.ojaipost.com/2007/01/coalition_opposes_hundreds_of.shtml
- Frank Luntz is a liar. http://www.bradblog.com/?p=4059
- Wu Ming at Surf Putah, says livable neighborhoods are important, and should be given more respect in Davis. http://surfputah.blogspot.com/2007/01/importance-of-neighborhoods.html
- Are we going to havecap and trade on our emissions? Statewide? Nationally? Who knows? http://blogs.laweekly.com/judith_lewis/the-state-of-our-cap-n-trade-union-if-only-it-were-true/
- The Blue Dogs, including Tauscher and Harman, aren’t so interested in the lives of our soldiers and the Iraqis, but they do care about the money we’ve put into the quagmire. Money over lives…how very Blue Dog. http://fromthefeverswamp.blogspot.com/2007/01/harman-blue-dogs-plan-and-murtha.html
- What’s up with the free municipal WiFi in SF? Who the hell knows? Certainly not the Chronicle. You know what would be a great idea? An expansion of government services that didn’t include selling out to corporations, even if it’s “Don’t Be Evil” Google. http://leftinsf.com/blog/index.php/archives/1541
- Why is CalPERS investing in urban sprawl? http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/01/state_pension_s.html
- Hey Look, a city in the OC has a budget surplus. Good for the GOP! Oh, wait, Irvine’s mayor is a Democrat? Oh now OC Register! What do you have to say to that?
- At CSU: Tuitions rise…as do executive salaries. http://www.speakoutca.org/archives/2007/01/post_16.php
- We have too many women in prisons. http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2007/01/26/under-the-guise-of-choice-denying-justice-to-women-in-california-prisons
