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Obama Hits Back

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After ceding round one to Mitt Romney, President Obama comes out swinging in round two.

After a totally and completely lackluster performance two weeks ago in Denver, Barack Obama roared back in the second presidential debate with Republican challenger Mitt Romney. The president who seemed annoyed and disengaged two weeks ago was nowhere to be found. The challenger who was so supremely confident and in control two weeks ago got a taste of his own medicine, and was knocked down a few pegs for the privilege.
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Sherri Lightner Seeks to Retain Her City Council Seat

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The lone remaining City Council race stands to determine the balance of power in San Diego’s City Hall.

The lone remaining undecided city council race is in District 1, where incumbent Democrat Sherri Lightner finished a close second to Republican challenger Ray Ellis. Which is surprising, and then again not surprising, since of the four contestants in the race, three of them were Democrats.

It’s an important race, however, one that could very well determine the future direction of the City of San Diego. It will determine the balance of power between Democrats and Republicans on the City Council, which is currently split evenly between the two parties, giving one party a distinct edge in which policies get adopted. And although the city council and mayoral race is officially non-partisan, in this election year they have been anything but. It’s a distinction that takes on even more significance should Carl DeMaio defeat Bob Filner in the mayor’s race.   [Read more…]

DeMaio and Co. Gin Up Pension Controversy

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Local Republican cabal refuses to take “Yes” for an answer in attempt to refight pension battle they’ve already won.

Republicans in this town must be getting desperate. How else do you explain Republican strategist Tony Manolatos putting together a press conference to bash Democratic mayoral candidate Bob Filner on something that has been settled policy for quite some time, and to my knowledge has not changed since the primary election last June.

I’ve covered the issue here and here. Filner had his own pension reform plan that he touted during the primary campaign. That plan included refinancing the city’s pension debt in order to take advantage of historically low interest rates and to lower the city’s debt payments, thereby freeing up funds for other vital city functions. But ever since Prop B won at the ballot box in June, Filner has accepted defeat on that measure and assured the voters of San Diego that he would follow their will and implement Prop B.   [Read more…]

Romney Comes Across as the Victor in Round 1

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Republican challenger reshapes his image in first presidential debate, but got away with some whoppers in the process.

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney had a very good night last night in the presidential election’s first head-to-head debate. He was forceful, he was in command, he got all of his points across, and he presented an image of himself as a man of the people.

He also lied through his teeth. Repeatedly. And got away with it unchallenged.   [Read more…]

Stadium at San Diego’s 10th Ave Marine Terminal Site Potentially a VERY Bad Idea

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UT San Diego​ CEO threatens port commissioner in effort to intimidate local officials into supporting development plan.

San Diego has a stadium problem. I know. You’re shocked—SHOCKED!—to hear this. I mean, after all, it’s been the best kept secret in San Diego this side of peanut butter. We’ve only been talking about a new football stadium to replace the aging and crumbling city owned Jack Murphy/Qualcomm Stadium for the Chargers (and Aztecs) for over a decade now. And yes, it has been that long. It may only seem like yesterday.

The Chargers have long contended that in order to remain financially competitive in the NFL they would need a new football only stadium with all the bells and whistles of the rest of the modern facilities that have cropped up throughout the league. And there have been a LOT of them. Of the 32 NFL teams, almost all of them are playing in new or completely refurbished stadiums.   [Read more…]

City Agencies Thrive Under Managed Competition

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Carl DeMaio’s quest to privatize San Diego’s city services take an unexpected turn.

For decades now we have heard Republicans tell us that under every circumstance government is incapable and incompetent. There’s this completely irrational hatred of all things linked to the government–except the military, of course–which somehow doesn’t qualify as a government agency by Republican definition. Government, and by extension, government agencies—all government agencies—are unable to efficiently and effectively perform the tasks they’ve been chartered for, and thus cannot be trusted with taxpayer money.

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Nathan Fletcher Endorses Scott Peters

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Former Republican lends his support to Democrat’s campaign for Congress

State Assemblyman and former San Diego mayoral candidate Nathan Fletcher announced in a press conference this afternoon that he was formally endorsing Democrat Scott Peters in his bid to unseat incumbent Republican Brian Bilbray in the race for the 52nd Congressional District seat in San Diego.

“I believe Scott will be a better representative and a better member of Congress” than Brian Bilbray, Fletcher said.   [Read more…]

Who does Brian Bilbray really represent in Congress?

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The lobbyist in Bilbray carries over into his activities as a duly elected member of Congress.

Potentially earthshattering news came to light yesterday. It was news that for the Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, could and should be devastating, and earthshattering for the Republican cause nationwide. David Corn of Mother Jones broke a story late yesterday of a video that was sent to him that was taken at a private fundraiser with the candidate and a small group of very wealthy donors.

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The Myth of the Filibuster-Proof Democratic Senate

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Republicans have magically, mystically turned 72 days into two full years.

We’ve heard it over and over and over again. Mitch McConnell has gleefully used it as a cudgel. Congressional Republicans typically can’t wait to get their mugs on camera to tell America just how inept Congressional Democrats are in order to aid their case that they should be put back in power. After all, Democrats couldn’t get anything done even with a 60 vote, filibuster-proof majority in the United States Senate during the first two years of the Obama administration.   [Read more…]

Prop 36: Amending California’s “Three Strikes” Law

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Adjusting sentencing guidelines under three strikes will help alleviate prison overcrowding and help California’s budget.

In 1994, California voters approved a law that was rather revolutionary in its time……as Californians are wont to do. We’re trendsetters in that way. The purpose of the “three strikes” law was a noble one: Deter violent crime—particularly from repeat offenders—by making each subsequent conviction even more costly.

According to the California Legislative Analyst’s Office, under the original 1994 law, a felon with two prior serious or violent convictions who is subsequently convicted of a third—his or her “third strike”—would be subject to a mandatory sentence of 25 years to life imprisonment. Even a second strike conviction would carry a sentence that is double the term that would otherwise be required by law.   [Read more…]

National Democratic Leaders Highlight Importance of San Diego Elections, Fall Short in their Support

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House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer appears in San Diego to support Scott Peters in Congressional race–UPDATED

Did you hear that Steny Hoyer was in town last week? My guess is probably not since it received very little coverage, if any. But yes, the second most powerful Democrat in the House of Representatives—second behind San Francisco’s Nancy Pelosi—was in San Diego last week to drum up support for Scott Peters in his run to unseat Republican incumbent Brian Bilbray. On Friday I had the opportunity to participate in a media availability with the Congressman from Maryland; a chance to get an idea from someone who represents the national Democratic Party just exactly what their plans are for the local races.

“This is a critical race for us,” Hoyer said about the Peters-Bilbray matchup.   [Read more…]

RNC Tampa Inanity Watch 2012!

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Help us keep track of the dumbest things said at the Republican National Convention

Welcome to the official opening of the 2012 presidential general election campaign season! This week, as you may have heard, the GOP kicks off their festivities in Tampa, Florida, in the wake and just outside the path of Hurricane Isaac. The storm may have delayed the opening of the Mitt Romney Coronation Convention, but it surely hasn’t dampened the GOP spirits, and it hasn’t affected their confidence heading into November.   [Read more…]

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