May 24th, 2009 09:07am

California’s government from hell

by PeteGolis

Six years ago, the brawny movie star rode into town on a promise to kick butt and take names. Remember? Unfortunately, his good intentions ran headlong into the immoveable object. These days, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is just another garden-variety politician, humbled by his failure to slay the beast that is state government. In Tuesday’s special election, state voters all but disavowed their government and in the process handed Schwarzenegger an … Read More »

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May 21st, 2009 03:15pm

With the election over, here comes the campaign to Repair California

by PeteGolis

The announcement came only 58 minutes after the polls closed on Tuesday night. With the defeat of ballot measures designed to stave off a financial calamity, the Bay Area Council was amping up its campaign to re-invent state government. “In the run-up to the recent special election,” the announcement said, “the movement for a California Constitutional Convention kept a deliberate quiet in order to let the ballot measures run their course. … Read More »

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May 20th, 2009 02:42pm

Hello world!

by PeteGolis

Welcome to Press Democrat Blogs. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

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May 20th, 2009 09:54am

Californians disavow their own government

by PeteGolis

Even in liberal Sonoma County, the message from voters was clear and unequivocal: We’re tired of the endless posturing and paralysis. We’re tired of the smoke and mirrors. We’re tired of government pretending that it’s not subject to the same economic realities as everyone else. If state government has to crash and burn, well, so be it. So, now what? If the usual partisanship holds sway, it is difficult to imagine … Read More »

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May 19th, 2009 03:31pm

Final election thought: How do they sleep at night?

by PeteGolis

I’m heading out to vote, mindful of what a friend said about this election: I’ll vote with two hands, he said, one to mark the ballot and the other to hold my nose. I’m looking at a political mailer that promises that Proposition 1C will provide “$5 billion immediately to help balance the budget without raising taxes. This will protect against even higher taxes and would prevent more cuts to schools, … Read More »

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May 18th, 2009 09:47am

Countdown to a meltdown

by PeteGolis

For many years, in good times and bad, the people who represent us in Sacramento have rejected every opportunity to bring spending in line with revenue. They also refused to put money aside for hard times. Now, they have a crisis, and no one trusts them. It appears that the financial meltdown of state government – a crisis so many years in the making – officially begins on Wednesday. That would … Read More »

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May 10th, 2009 01:55am

Learning to embrace our successes

by PeteGolis

Can you name the California communities where voters agreed to pay a sales tax that can only be used for the protection of scenic landscapes, farmland, recreation areas, streams and wildlife habitat? There is only one: Sonoma County. For people who believe in stopping the rush of sprawl development and protecting the most beautiful places, the place where we live is unique. But we don’t often celebrate the success … Read More »

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May 8th, 2009 12:23pm

Wow, California is in a world of trouble

by PeteGolis

Another 539,000 Americans lost their jobs last month, the U.S Labor Department reported this morning. That’s 2.7 million jobs lost since the beginning of the year and 5.7 million jobs lost since the economy began to slide in late 2007. And California state government continues to live in its alternate universe, pursuing business as usual – while shamelessly cranking out budget shortfalls as far as the eye can see. If the … Read More »

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May 4th, 2009 06:31pm

The grass is (suddenly) greener

by PeteGolis

What’s with the rain? A week after I write a column on the great drought of 2009, Sonoma County gets the second wettest day in May since folks started keeping records (it was during the Hoover administration). You’re welcome. And Bob Norberg just reported – here – that there’s more rain to come. If the forecast proves to be accurate, Santa Rosa will receive four times the average rainfall for the … Read More »

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