Free Republic

Prior to the May 1 illegal immigrant rallies, the Democrats in the California State Senate endorsed the protests and boycotts, calling it "The Great American Boycott." Keeping with their party's tradition of siding against America, Democrat Candidates for Assembly in District 6 held a forum for Latino voters sometime in April. On the evening of May 20, Novato Public Access Television replayed "Encuentro Latino - CA Assembly (District #6) Candidate Latino Forum." All candidates--Jared Huffman, Cynthia Murray, Alex Easton-Brown, Damon Connolly, Pamela Torliatt and John Alden--attended the event. District 6 includes Marin and Southern Sonoma counties. Besides the bilingual nature...

Well, it seems as if the rank and file elitist Country Club Republicans are flexing their muscles in the High Desert, not to mention down the hill, too, when it comes to who backs whom for the 59th assembly district race and why. When it comes to the two most likely frontrunners in the Victor Valley—encompassing Hesperia and Apple Valley—longtime GOP grass-roots crusader and people’s champion, Barry Hartz, versus government bureaucracy insider and recipient of Supervisor (San Bernardino County First District) Postmus’ back-scratching political favors, Anthony Adams, the battle lines have clearly been drawn and it’s easy to see, when...

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez has put the brakes on legislation that would require judges in some cases to censor personal and financial information from divorce records and is working to revise the bill. Assembly Democrats have been working behind the scenes this week to modify the bill so that judges could keep their discretionary powers and preserve the public's access to trial records, said Assemblywoman Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa. "I believe we need to have an open as possible process in our judicial system," said Evans, who is among the lawmakers seeking amendments to the bill. "Openness in judicial proceedings...

If you're looking for a blood-letting, money-spending, down-and-dirty campaign fight, you might want to look somewhere other than Assembly District 34. Sure, this sprawling district - running from Porterville to Needles - is one of the few districts in the Central Valley with a competitive primary election. But the challenger, Republican Jon Zellhoefer, has no expectation of ousting incumbent Bill Maze, R-Visalia. "I think he's doing a very good job," Zellhoefer says of his opponent. It's hardly the kind of zinger that's going to grab headlines. So why run? "I really expected that (Maze) was not going to run," Zellhoefer...

And as far as the U.S. effort is concerned, it seems there is almost nothing the White House, the Pentagon, or for that matter any American rifleman on the ground can do that is good enough to garner so much as a one-line "attaboy" from many of our country’s largest newspapers and television news networks. Let’s look at last Thursday, March 16, the day the Iraqi National Assembly opened in Baghdad and a high-profile "air assault" northeast of Samarra, as an example:

Facing a midnight deadline, the state Assembly was called back into session Wednesday to consider placing at least part of a massive public works bond proposal on the June ballot. The session was called shortly after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and leaders from both parties met for about an hour in a last-minute round of negotiations. Steve Maviglio, spokesman for Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, said the Assembly was to consider placing two measures on the June ballot: a $10.4 billion bond to build schools and upgrade universities, and an undetermined amount to repair the state's fragile levee system. "We...

March 3, 2006 -- Brian McLaughlin, head of the Central Labor Council and a Queens assemblyman, is in big trouble. FBI agents swooped down on CLC offices yesterday, carting off documents by the boxload in what they confirmed was an ongoing probe of McLaughlin (and who knows how many others). The investigation reportedly targets bid-rigging involving at least $162 million in city contracts for street-lighting projects over just the past two years. The news sent shock waves through both political and labor circles. But it really shouldn't surprise anyone. The CLC, an umbrella group for nearly 400 public- and private-sector...

"You are exactly right, and let me tell you one thing: those people, who say Iraq is not ready for democracy, are racists. They are absolute racists! They are saying that the Iraqi people are neither intelligent enough nor mature enough to be able to experience democracy."

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2006 – The new Iraqi national assembly must bring all Iraqis together to ensure a stable and prosperous future, Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq said. "The national unity government will need to implement a program that brings all Iraqis together, builds a happy future for the people of Iraq, and gets Iraq to stand on its own feet," Khalilzad said in a Feb. 10 statement as he welcomed the announcement of the final certified results of Iraq's Dec. 15 legislative elections. "We hope that this will be a government based on national unity, formed without regard...

On the surface, it was gratifying to note a peaceful protest by Muslims against the Mohammed caricatures today in London's Trafalgar Square. Peaceful assembly and free expression are the means by which civilized societies work out internal differences. But was today's demonstration truly a spontaneous, lawful expression of free speech, or carefully orchestrated public relations damage control for Islam? The BBC reports: Protests held in London last week sparked outrage when demonstrators carried placards with strong messages - the Metropolitan Police said some protesters could be charged with "incitement to murder". According to CNN.com, last week's Muslim "protestors" carried placards...

MADISON, Wis. -- The controversial concealed carry bill is in the crosshairs of the state Assembly on Tuesday. Lawmakers are expected to consider whether to follow the state Senate and override Gov. Jim Doyle's veto of the bill. The override would end a 133-year ban on allowing Wisconsinites to carry concealed weapons. The Senate voted to override the veto last week. A two-thirds majority vote is required to override the governor's veto, so the focus of many Capitol watchers will be on just a few Assembly members whose votes will decide the bill's fate. The bill's author, Dave Zien, said...

California would consider switching to public financing of political campaigns under a bill approved by the Assembly on Monday. It was the first time assemblymembers have ever passed such a measure. The bill would provide public money to candidates who voluntarily give up outside contributions similar to systems in use in Arizona, Connecticut and Maine. The voluntary system would require candidates to first raise a large number of small donations from within his or her legislative district before qualifying for public financing. The candidate would then have to agree not to spend additional money, including his or her own money....

I wonder what would happen if I were to march into Governor Daniels' office and declare, "Pack your stuff and git, Mich; I'm the Governor now." We all know what should happen. He should use his executive power to have me dragged away. But judging from recent events, I wonder if he'd instead say, "I just think it's regrettable," and shuffle out of his office, mumbling something about "activist citizens?" In claiming that public prayers can't mention Jesus Christ, Federal District Court Judge David Hamilton invoked the so-called "establishment clause" in the US Constitution's 1st Amendment. In response, our Governor...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2005 – Just as election activities wrap up in Iraq, the people of Afghanistan are looking toward a historic event in their own country, as its National Assembly convenes Dec. 19 for the first time in more than three decades. Formation of the parliament marks the latest step in Afghanistan' path to democracy and follows the country's Sept. 18 parliamentary elections, a State Department official told the American Forces Press Service on the condition that he not be identified or quoted. Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police and international military forces ensured a relatively safe and secure...

Madison - A Republican-controlled Assembly committee today approved a bill that would allow people to carry concealed weapons after rejecting a Democratic amendment that would have barred guns in child care centers. The approval by the Criminal Justice and Homeland Security Committee clears the way for a vote Thursday before the full Assembly. The committee also threw out Democratic proposals to make it easier for businesses to keep people from carrying guns on their properties and to allow police officers to check whether drivers had concealed weapons permits before approaching their cars during routine stops. Under the bill (AB 763),...

Nobody was surprised that state Sen. Carole Migden voted in favor of her own cosmetics bill. The problem was that she did it in the wrong legislative house. Toward the end of Wednesday's floor session, Migden, a San Francisco Democrat, pushed the voting button of a GOP assemblyman who was temporarily away from his desk. Her action violated Assembly rules and drew an angry response from Republicans. "That behavior cannot be tolerated," said Assembly Republican leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield. "It's unheard of on this floor, it's against the rules, and it cannot be tolerated." Migden, chairwoman of the powerful...

SACRAMENTO - In the face of fierce opposition from high-tech companies, landmark state legislation to limit public agencies from using radio frequency devices was dealt a major setback Thursday. The Assembly Appropriations Committee, without discussion, shelved the measure for the year, though Sen. Joe Simitian, who has been pushing the proposal, vowed to try to revive it before the Legislature adjourns for the year on Sept. 9. At issue was whether advanced forms of the technology would threaten personal privacy if embedded in millions of state-issued driver's licenses, public school IDs, government health benefit cards and public library cards as...

ALBANY, Aug. 22 - More than three years after a casino company gave Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver a discount rate at a luxury suite at one of its Las Vegas hotels, the staff of the state lobbying commission is recommending that the company pay a $25,000 fine, according to a staff memo. In its proposed "civil penalty settlement," the commission's staff is proposing that the company, Caesars Entertainment, pay the fine for violating the state's $75 limit on gifts from lobbyists in 2002, when it gave Mr. Silver and his wife a V.I.P. suite at the Paris Las Vegas hotel...

Aug 2, 2005 : 9:26 pm ET RALEIGH, N.C. -- Democrats worked Tuesday to settle differences over pay raises, cigarette taxes and a lottery so they can close a budget deal for state government. House and Senate Democrats, who hold a majority in the Legislature, met privately for much of the past three days -- in caucus meetings, negotiation sessions and one-on-ones between House Speaker Jim Black and Senate leader Marc Basnight. "We're getting closer on these things," said Black, D-Mecklenburg. Legislative leaders want to have their final $17 billion spending blueprint for this year by late Wednesday. The new...

SACRAMENTO (AP) - A bill that would increase tolls on Bay Area bridges to pay for earthquake safety upgrades passed the California Assembly Wednesday and now goes to the governor for his approval. The Assembly voted 58-6 for the measure, which would result in toll increases of at least $1 on most Bay Area bridges. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders came to an agreement on the plan last month, ending a dispute between the Republican governor and San Francisco area legislators over how to cover $3.6 billion in cost overruns, mainly from the Bay Bridge project. The bill would...