Did you notice how Barack Obama avoided the personal attacks that became the stock and trade of John McCain and, especially, Sarah Palin? Yes, it was easier to resist negative campaigning because Obama and Joe Biden were ahead in the polls, but I also think Obama was mindful that there [...]

The president-elect, Barack Obama, received 73.5 percent of the vote in Sonoma County on Tuesday. If you want to know why this is called a Democratic county, now you know.Supervisor Valerie Brown of Sonoma won re-election, but only barely. For the person who is about to become the president of [...]

People who like politics will never forget 2008. For drama, history, controversy, raw emotion and intrigue, it was the best - the grand daddy of roller coaster rides.But it's gone on long enough, don't you think? If nothing else, the nastiness of recent days tells us that the candidates have [...]

Once upon a time - maybe it was April - John McCain vowed to compete for California's electoral votes. Remember?I was reminded of McCain's springtime optimism by the latest Field Poll results this morning. They show Barack Obama with a 22-point lead in California.As has become the pattern in recent [...]

A year ago, one would have said that Sharon Wright and Shirlee Zane were friends. They were neighbors, they attended the same parties, they shared family ties.Now the candidates for supervisor in the Third District and their supporters are busy bashing each other. In the latest mailers, Wright is in [...]

In case you missed it, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday announced the formation of a state commission to reform state and local taxes. For the Sacramento Bee story, click here.It would be pleasant to believe, of course, that this decision would lead, logically, to a more fair and efficient system [...]

On Monday, California Senate President Don Perata said the new state budget has a $10 billion hole in it. This morning, a page one story in The Press Democrat described how hometown candidates are busy trashing each other - while avoiding any discussion of the financial crisis that will soon [...]

In my hometown and in my country, I worry about the damage caused by politicians who would divide us for the sake of winning elections. Animosity may win the day, but it won't put our economy back on the right track.Eight years later, what we know about President George W. [...]

Sharon Wright and Shirlee Zane, rivals in the hotly contested Third District supervisorial race, both live in Santa Rosa's upscale MacDonald Avenue neighborhood. So, it's probably no coincidence that this week this tony district is bristling with campaigns signs.The signs shout-out across expansive front lawns and wide streets flanked by [...]

At the end of tonight's debate, I gave the edge to John McCain. I thought he was more aggressive, and Barack Obama lacked the same energy he showed in the previous debate.But instant surveys of independent voters declared Obama the easy winner.So what have we learned?One, the traditional rules of [...]