September 22nd, 2008 01:08pm

How California and Texas became political backwaters

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A friend told me he visited Washington, D.C., and found everyone he met eager to vote for Democrat Barack Obama. Then my friend moved on to Tennessee and found that everyone he met seemed equally excited about voting for Republican Sarah Palin and her running mate, John McCain. Yes, McCain is the presidential candidate, but it was Palin, my friend said, who people were excited about. By now, we … Read More »

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September 19th, 2008 11:14am

Budget deal doesn’t put an end to the embarrassment

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So, we think we have a budget deal. Again. Eighty-one days late, the state Legislature today will ratify the latest compromise. The agreement is said to respond to the governor’s demand for a rainy-day reserve and to his opposition to a half-baked scheme to advance income tax withholding. With or without these improvements, Californians already know this budget is held together with accounting gimmicks that once again borrow against future revenues. … Read More »

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September 14th, 2008 11:14am

Are public employees’ unions too powerful?

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The union representing 31,000 prison guards last week set in motion legal proceedings that could lead to a recall election against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The California Correctional Peace Officers Association is unhappy because Schwarzenegger rejected their demands for more money and for more control over the management of state prisons. It’s a free country, but it’s hard to know what the union expected to happen. As of today, the state budget … Read More »

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September 4th, 2008 04:50pm

Thoughts on cable news coverage of the conventions

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A reader of this blog asked where to find my Sunday column. It’s available on the opinion page of pressdemocrat.com, or by clicking here. If you like the way cable news covers the political conventions, you might want to pass.

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September 4th, 2008 02:02am

About elitist charge, Democrats need to look in the mirror

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How many jokes about small-town Alaska have you heard this week? If you live in Democratic strongholds such as Sonoma County, I would bet you heard quite a few. I know I did. In locales where people imagine they are more sophisticated, it becomes easy to patronize people whose lifestyles are different. Tonight, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, gave it back, speaking up for the people who … Read More »

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September 3rd, 2008 12:23pm

Say what? Republicans embrace the Clintons

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For 16 years, Republican political operatives demonized Bill and Hillary Clinton. From health care to Whitewater to Monica Lewinsky, the Clintons became the Republican political machine’s favorite punching bags. So it’s more than a little weird to see Republicans now embracing the Clintons. In her first national appearance, Sarah Palin, John McCain’s choice for a vice presidential running mate, listed Sen. Hillary Clinton as a role model for women … Read More »

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September 2nd, 2008 12:50pm

The presidential campaign that keeps on giving

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Wow. It didn’t seem like the 2008 presidential campaign needed any more story lines. Then along comes Sarah Palin. Until Friday, most Americans couldn’t name the governor of Alaska, but that hasn’t stopped them from having fervent opinions about John McCain’s surprise choice for a vice presidential running mate. Republicans have their fingers crossed. By Nov. 4, voters may be exhausted, but between now and then, they won’t lack for debate topics. BTW, … Read More »

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