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Scott Peters’ case for election to Congress comes across as weak kneed

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Former City Council member and current Port Commissioner Scott Peters tries to sell his candidacy, but his argument leaves behind more doubts than assurances.

When our intrepid Editordude asked if I would cover the Ocean Beach Planning Board meeting last Wednesday night and I found out that Scott Peters was coming to speak, I have to admit that I was pretty excited. (Yeah, I know…..I’m pathetic, but whatever.) I really didn’t know much of anything about Peters, and this was my first chance to form some sort of impression of him heading into the June primary.   [Read more…]

First Cuppa Coffee – April 6, 2012: Disgusting Wisdom Edition

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Speaking out against slavery… Come Saturday, the Radical Feminists of San Diego are putting together a mobilization in support of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) to demand the abolishment of human trafficking, the modern-day form of slavery. The event will start at noon on the southeast corner of 30th and El Cajon Blvd. They’ll march east ending at the south-side bus stop at the intersection of El Cajon Blvd and the Rt 15 on ramp where human rights advocates will speak out human trafficking.

The sneaky feminist plot… Phyllis Schlafly, the happy right wing warrior chiefly known for defeating the Equal Rights Amendment and hating gays (except her gay son) gave an exceptional speech to young military cadets at the Citadel, South Carolina’s boot camp for middle class crackers this week. She passed on some serious wisdom to our future military leaders, like: “Feminists are having a hard time being elected because they essentially are unlikable,” and “Find out if your girlfriend is a feminist before you get too far into it,” she said. “Some of them are pretty. They don’t all look like Bella Abzug.”   [Read more…]

First Cuppa Coffee – April 5th, 2012: Spring Bling Edition

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Part Deux, Kony 2012 hits the interwebs… Invisible Children, the makers of Kony2012, the video about a Ugandan tyrant that took the internet by storm just a few weeks ago were all set to release “Part 2” of their campaign earlier this week. But then it was mysteriously delayed until today. It’s out there now in the interwebs, and early reviews are saying that it is mostly an attempt to answer criticisms of the first video. Complaints about the original video included the assertion that Kony 2012 was too American-centric, that the group spends too little money directly on the people it intends to help, and that it oversimplified the 26-year-old conflict involving Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army. Noticeably missing in part two is the voice of the organization’s cofounder, Jason Russell, who was diagnosed with brief psychosis last month after witnesses saw him pacing naked on a sidewalk in a San Diego neighborhood, screaming incoherently and banging his fists on the pavement.

But wait! There’s more! Reports out of Washington DC are now painting a picture of Invisible Children that ties them financially and politically to the mysterious politico-evangelist group called The Fellowship (aka, the Family) which, among other things, has been credited with inspiring and providing “technical support” for Uganda’s internationally-denounced Anti Homosexuality Bill, also dubbed the “kill the gays” bill.   [Read more…]

First Cuppa Coffee – April 4th, 2012: They Who Would Be King Edition

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Cry me a river… What’s a Republican gotta do to get some ink in this town, anyway? With the national press all gaga over Nathan Fletcher’s decision to dump the Grand Old Party, the Brian Bilbray campaign is hoping that they’ll get some ink (probably not in the OB Rag, though) when House Speaker John Boehner speaks out at a campaign fundraiser on Thursday at a Pacific Beach condo at Pacific Beach Drive and Cass Streets. Festivities are slated to begin at around 5pm, and rumor has it that there will be protesters.

The primaries are over, really…. For those of you who may have missed this morning’s pronouncements in the mainstream media, Former Mass. Gov. Willard Romney’s sweep of the elections in Wisconsin, Maryland and the District of Columbia means that he’s won the race to become the lucky Republican to take on the incumbent Democratic President. Word hasn’t apparently reached Rick Santorum, who’s decided to one up the other clueless contender, moon man Newt Gingrich, by visiting Mars. (Mars, Pennsylvania, that is.) By the way, in Wisconsin, four out of 10 voters in the Republican primary weren’t even Republicans.   [Read more…]

Filner and Fletcher Shine in San Diego Mayoral Debate

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Candidates Bob Filner and Nathan Fletcher demonstrate a preparedness to lead.

The race to determine who will become the next Mayor of San Diego took its next step last night at the Joan Kroc Center for Peace and Justice Theater on the campus of the University of San Diego. Nearly 300 people filled the auditorium to capacity to see the top four contenders for the top political office in San Diego square off in a debate with the intention of focusing on one issue and one issue only: Education.   [Read more…]

Open Letter to Assemblywoman Toni Atkins on Proposed Bill Requiring Registration of Medical Marijuana Patients

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Assembly Member Toni Atkins
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0076

Re: A.B. 2465

April 3, 2012

Good morning Ms. Atkins:

I am writing to you with concern over A.B. 2465, introduced by Assembly Member Campos of San Jose. As I am sure you are aware, the bill contains provisions which directly affects the privacy rights of those who use medicinal marijuana as they are provided under the provisions of the Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 (codified as California Health and Safety Code §§ 11362.7, et seq.).

As I understand the gravamen of A.B. 2465, inter alia, it would require those who seek to use medicinal marijuana, after obtaining a physician’s recommendation, to register with the State of California to obtain an identification card as a part of a state-wide registry.   [Read more…]

Ocean Beach Planning Board to Elect Officers and Listen to Scott Peters Campaigning for Congress

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On Wednesday, April 4th, at their regular monthly meeting, the Ocean Beach Planning Board will elect new officers for the next year. The selection of Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary – the principle positions – is an annual ritual completed after the latest annual Board election. The election was held on March 13th, and the Board will presumptively certify the election results.

Also on the agenda is Scott Peters, who ostensibly, is giving a report on news from the San Diego Port District because he is a Port Commissioner. But as we all know, Scott Peters is also running for the Congressional seat in the 52nd District, which does include OB. So, he’ll be there to expound on his campaign. Peter’s Democratic opponent, former Assemblywoman Lori Saldana, will not be there. Peters is expected to report on the Convention Center expansion and the North Embarcadero “Visionary Project”.   [Read more…]

First Cuppa Coffee – April 3rd, 2012: Everybody But Romney Edition

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They want their pork back… House Republicans, frustrated with their own inability to come up with majorities in a chamber where they supposedly rule the roost, have come with a game plan to get things moving. Speaker John Boehner, according to Reuters, has convened a secret group to figure out how to undo the earmark ban after the next election. Party leaders have determined that the earmark ban has “has affected discipline” within the party. So, it was nice while it lasted…. (Editordude: btw, Boehner will be in town later this week at a private fundraiser in Pacific Beach and some Dems and friends are coming out to welcome him and his pal, Brian Bilbray. It’s Thursday, April 5 and starts before 5pm at 1025 Pacific Beach Drive.)

  [Read more…]

OB Planning Board election results … and vacancies still exist

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On March 13th, the Ocean Beach Planning Board held its annual election. Every year, half of the seats on the 14 member Board are up for election, an election that residents, property owners, and business owners may participate in. Board terms are two years.

The Board meets twice monthly, with the General meeting held on the first Wednesday of every month. Two weeks later, the Project Review Committee – a sub-committee – then meets, to review and make recommendations to the full Board.

According to our Election Committee Chair Nancy Taylor the results are as follows:   [Read more…]

First Cuppa Coffee – Monday, April 2, 2012 : Cash for Carl Edition

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Thanks for the cash, Carl… The OB Rag April Fool’s post yesterday claiming that Fox News had purchased this site was a big hit with readers. Obviously, for those of you that missed the “sarcasm” tag, it was in jest. We’re all still poor this morning. A whole bunch of other progressive leaning blogs did hit the jackpot this weekend, thanks to Mayoral candidate Carl DeMaio. Surfers logging in from computers ID’d as being located in the San Diego area are seeing DeMaio’s ads on websites like Daily Kos, Truthdig, Talking Points Memo and The Nation. It is a little strange reading about the latest GOP outrage with DeMaio’s beady little eyes staring at you from the screen.

TV’s Morning Madness…. Former Alaska Gov. (And reality show host) Sarah Palin has agreed to co-host the Today show Tuesday. She’ll be lining up against Katie Couric, who be stepping in over at Good Morning America. There’s been no word from either network over whether Couric’s “gotcha moment” video interview with Palin will be rebroadcast on either network. NBC’s not taking any chances on losing the ratings war this week, though… other high profile guests appearing this week include: “Octomom” Nadya Suleman, Kim Kardashian, the Duggar family and rapper Nicki Minaj. Observers expect the nation’s IQ to drop by five to nine points this week.
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San Diego Women to Rally Against Attacks on International Women’s Day – March 8th

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Women from all over San Diego County will rally in front of the US Federal Courthouse in San Diego on Thursday, March 8th, to support women’s rights to contraception on International Women’s Day. The rally will be held from noon to 1pm, and the Courthouse is located at 940 Front Street, in downtown San Diego.

The rally will address a number of recent attacks on a woman’s right to contraception and family planning:

  • US Rep. Darrell Issa convenes a hearing about contraception with 5 men on the panel, and no women.
  • Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum touts the “dangers” of contraceptives and that sex is “only for purposes of procreation.”
  • Foster Friess, main donor to a super PAC for Rick Santorum, suggests women use aspirin as a contraception method.
  • Rush Limbaugh, on a national radio show, calls a young woman a slut and prostitute because she speaks out in favor of birth control.

  [Read more…]

Black Marketeers, Rejoice: Feds and Local Prosecutors Teaming Up Against Legal Weed

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The music video for Guns ‘N’ Roses’ “You Could Be Mine” concludes with a classic moment where Arnold Schwarzenegger, playing his Terminator character, considers assassinating singer Axl Rose.

When the Terminator’s computer brain deems Rose a “waste of ammo,” Arnold lowers his weapon and walks away, presumably to engage a more worthy target.

In 2010, employing a similar thought process as governor of California, Schwarzenegger changed small-time possession of marijuana from a misdemeanor to an infraction carrying a $100 fine.
  [Read more…]

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