California Politics
GregD -- Friday, November 12, 2004 -- 05:00:24 PMIt's the fifth largest economy in the world, the largest state economy in the US, representing 13% of the GDP, and a global hub of tomorrow's technologies and industries. Its central valley is one of the world's most fertile growing regions, producing much of the nation's fruit, vegetables, and nuts. It contains three of the top ten most populous regions of the United States. It's the Golden State. The Land of Milk and Honey. It's California.
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(Deleted message originally posted by GregD on Friday, November 12, 2004 -- 05:02:59 PM.)
Edison graciously offers to slap its own wrist.
Cal Edison, in an act of contrition rivalling the most penitent of medieval monks, humbly offers to return the money it stole from our pockets by blatantly falsifying records showing improvements in safety and reliability. Well, part of it.
For some reason I can't get to that link. I have to login, and then it takes me to the member page.
But it's irritating.
LA Times sucks, sorry. You have to be registered and yes, and it's got that stupid thing where it kicks you to their members page instead of back to the article. Make sure you're not refusing their cookies.
Why does it do that? It's insane.
Anyway, I worry about California. I love it to death, but term limits is just hurting the political scenery something fierce.
There was another op-ed against term limits in the Times yesterday. It's a bad idea whose time has passed. Plus, I'm sick of watching men term-out then have their wives run for the same office. It's nepotistic and unseemly.
Everyone is just planning their next job. It's hideous.
I'll have to look up that op-ed.
Mystery Orange School Board member to reveal his secret identity at swearing-in.
Guy runs for a school board slot, does no campaigning at all, and wins in a highly-politicized school district, then refuses to show himself until swearing-in. Did I mention he has no kids and lives with his mother? Ah, Orange County.
Imagine being Phil Martinez, the involved PTA president who lost to him.
Well, yeah. But it was an initiative, wasn't it?
It was an amendment. I remember when it passed. So it could pass by another amendment. There was an effort to change it a while back that failed. But it was a cheap effort. Better would be an all-out effort to drop it completely.
So what do people in CA think of Ahnuld so far? Personally, I'm pleased. Maybe not as effective in fighting the squabbling right and left of the legislature as he thought he'd be, but he's got a bully pulpit he uses well, and I like him on most issues.
My favorite move lately? Telling a bunch of fat-cat political appointees to a number of backlogged and lagging boards to either punch the clock or walk. I can't believe the whining of these bastards that they'd have to *gasp* actually show up to their $100K+ jobs and get some shit done for the state.
Jesus. Why aren't they fired right away?
It's not clear that they can - some are appointed for specific terms, etc. But I'd imagine demonstrating their unwillingness to actually get their jobs done or show up to work would be the first step toward that.
I've no problem in general with these people doing their jobs from home if they can, nor with taking side outside their positions. But if your appointed position or board or agency is lagging or has a backlog you better be on it or face losing your job.
"If we are going to have a clock-punching mentality, then I think we are asking for a different type of board," Thornton said.
That's right, you fucking genius.
"What I expect from the board is cutting-edge thinking. I don't care how they do it; what I want to see is results."
Yay! Right again! Now explain your massive goddamned backlog!
I'm also appalled at the fact that with years-long backlogs of cases it's somehow unthinkable to consider putting in a little unpaid overtime on your $114K/year job. Christ on a crutch.
What bothers me is the insight into the sleaze. "So and so, a state senator's wife...". Arrrrggghhh.
Term limits suck. Maybe the repeal effort will become more effective as the impact is really felt, with the last old timers out in January.
The CA constitution is easily amended, unlike the US constitution. It's done by indirect legislation or initiative all the time. It's a very interesting document that is much longer, more detailed and covers more subjects than the federal one.
You live in Glendale, right JRo? There was an article in the Times about the revitalization of Brand Blvd recently that made me want to visit the town. I'd love to live in the Glendale / Pasadena area but it's just too far from work.
Sorry, OT in my own thread.