Free Republic

Faux Panels Declare ‘Hate’ There is a rumor going around the California State Capitol that the Legislature is about to vote on a ban of humor in the state, because every time someone laughs at something funny, it is apparently at the expense of someone else’s feelings. If this sounds silly, the Senate hearing held Tuesday, ostensibly on “hate speech,” was even more nonsensical.

California taxpayers should ask themselves, in the words of Clint Eastwood's famous movie character, "Do I feel lucky?" We're not staring down the barrel of "Dirty Harry" Callahan's gun wondering whether there's a bullet in the chamber. Instead, we're gambling our financial future on whether public pension fund investments will surpass reasonable expectations. If state Treasurer Bill Lockyer, union leaders and the state's largest government employee retirement funds have their way, they'll continue betting against the odds. It's not surprising. It's not their money at risk. They won't have to cover the losses. Taxpayers will. Last week, a study led...

Report: Occupy Oakland Devolves into “Lord of the Flies” John on October 20, 2011 at 12:01 am From the Oakland Tribune: The next thing Hughes knew he was in a headlock, then he was being punched, and then he was on the ground as a large man began to choke him. This happened as Hughes, a substitute teacher and Occupy Oakland resident, tried to keep a larger man who also lived in the camp from threatening a woman there. Finally, after another threatening incident involving the same individual, the occupiers had had enough: About 3:30 Tuesday afternoon, a group of...

Will Arizona get federal help for their wildfires? I doubt it.

Californian officials have been accused of wasting millions of dollars on concrete fish ladders, cameras and fishways to allow endangered trout to spawn in streams. Conservationists say there is little evidence construction efforts since the 1980s have done anything except absorb taxpayers' money. The work to save the steelhead species has led to about a dozen concrete fishways at a cost of more than $16.7 million (£10.8 million) One fish ladder would require fish to leap 8ft (2m) to reach it. "If we do a series of rubbish projects like fish ladders to nowhere ... then the public trust for...

As California goes, so goes the country. Do you remember when these words were proudly spoken by champions of populist democracy determined to make California the model for national progress? From public education to universal healthcare to labor-friendly workplace laws to progressive taxation to environmental leadership, Californians were going to show the rest of us backward Americans what happens when Power to The People becomes more than just a slogan. Could anyone ask for a better environment in which to test this muscular model of democracy? And what a test it was as Californians pioneered the ballot initiative to make...

Some believe that the Southern drawl has expanded to the point where, arguably, more than half of all Americans now glide their diphthongs and hush their R's like modern-day Rhett Butlers. Some professionals who travel around even adopt different regional dialects as they go, knowing it's one of the best ways to get ahead. But other experts believe mass communications and urbanization are cutting away at the distinctiveness of the Southern voice, resulting in a more mono-pitch America.

SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) - A California physician launched an effort to gather a million signatures to force a recall vote on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who came to office two years ago following an unprecedented recall. Kenneth Matsumura announced the campaign prior to submitting a petition to California's Secretary of State, who oversees elections. "People are desperate, they're suffering, and I think the governor's going to have to listen," he told reporters, saying Schwarzenegger has hurt the poor and students. "The task at first seemed daunting but in the last week the number of hits to our Web site at 'Recall2006.com'...

SACRAMENTO - A year ago on the campaign trail, Arnold Schwarzenegger promised to veto last-minute legislation and end backroom dealing in the Capitol. Now, as the Legislature winds down he is asking lawmakers to endorse his own late proposals on some of the most far-reaching issues of the session. Before legislators leave town as early as Friday, Schwarzenegger wants them to sign off on five Indian casino deals, a Bay Bridge financing scheme and bills involving access to lower-cost prescription drugs and solar energy -- all plans released in the past week. The governor's timing ``makes it almost impossible to...

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday appointed 10 members to the California Air Resources Board, while keeping current Chairman Alan Lloyd in that position. The board has battled with the federal government over California's nation-leading auto emission and air pollution regulations, most recently over whether the state can enact limits on greenhouse gas-creating chemicals. Lloyd has been a member and chair since he was appointed by former Democratic Gov. Gray Davis in 1999. Lloyd, 62, a Democrat from Sacramento, is paid $123,708 as the board's only full time member. The Republican governor kept four other previous appointees: Dorene...

It's hard to believe a year has passed since Arnold Schwarzenegger shocked the world from the set of "The Tonight Show" by telling host Jay Leno that he would run for governor of California. And what a year it's been. While the past few months have been hard for the governor, it's still astonishing to think of all that Schwarzenegger has pulled off. He unseated a sitting governor. He delivered on his promise to overturn the much-hated tripling of the state car tax. He persuaded the Legislature to withdraw its poorly devised plan to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants....

The Schwarzenegger administration has decided those more lucrative safety retirement benefits that went to the politically influential California Union of Safety Employees will apply only from here on out. Union members will not receive richer safety retirement credit for service before July 1, 2004, when the new safety category went into effect. It was the right decision for taxpayers and fairness. It also was a big financial blow to individual retirees. Under the old retirement formula, a 55-year-old CAUSE union member with 30 years on the job could retire today with 60 percent of pay. If the new, richer formula...

Louis Vuitton and Pink Chiffon: Why Conservatives Should Support Gay Marriage June 4, 2004 by John Phillips There are few issues in American life that can make seemingly normal people turn dippy on a dime -- and since Justin Timberlake hasn’t disrobed any member of the Jackson family of late -- the never ending saga over gay marriage has stepped up to fill the void. Like most conservatives, I’ve always believed that when it comes to protecting liberty the following rules apply: (1) individuals know better than politicians, (2) the states know better than the feds and (3) those who...

Stealth Californian (Dem) Petition out to reduce assembles votes needed to pass budget Just a head up I just got hit up to sign a petition on how the Californian budget is to be passed What was pitcher is: “If the assembly does not pass a budget they don’t get paid!”Sounds like something a Republican might support However if you read it: It really is to reduce the assembly votes required to pass a Californian state budget from 2/3 votes to 55%... what the Dem are pushing

Californian angst over affirmative action poll By Hugh Davies in Los Angeles (Filed: 06/08/2003) A prominent black conservative's attempt to create what he calls a "colour-blind" California is causing tension in the already angst-ridden "recall" election of the state governor, Gray Davis. Ward Connerly, 64, a wealthy Republican on the board of regents at the University of California, has had an anti-affirmative action initiative put on the Oct 7 ballot. Petitioners have forced the election that could remove Mr Davis, a Democrat, from office before his due term expires. Californians will now also be asked to decide if the state...

<p>WASHINGTON (AP) - As the new chairman of the House Resources Committee, California Rep. Richard Pombo is taking on anyone in his way, from environmental groups he's long battled to fellow Republicans who opposed his ascension to the job.</p> <p>The 42-year-old rancher from Tracy, chosen for the post over more senior lawmakers, has quickly banished thoughts he would moderate his staunch opposition to government programs and environmentalists to reflect his new prominence and a redrawn district that includes a politically moderate portion of the San Francisco Bay area.</p>