Category: Politics

Sing it with me now…

(CBS 13) SACRAMENTO The California Voter Foundation released “The Proposition Song”, a sing-along song designed to introduce voters to the thirteen propositions on California’s November 7 ballot. Each proposition is reviewed in the song, which runs just under three minutes and is set to a traditional folk melody.

Oh, there once was a proposition, its number was One-A
The first of thirteen measures to decide by Election Day. (November 7th!)
Arnold and the lawmakers want the first five props to pass
One-A would mandate road funding from the sales taxes on gas.

One-B is a bond act with billions for highways
One-C would build shelters for folks who need a place to stay.
Next we have Prop One-D, a school improvement bond
There’s nine more measures in this song

Pay attention and sing along
It’s the Proposition Song
‘Cause the ballot is too darn long!

One-E protects the rivers, repairs the levees too
One-E’s followed by 83? Confusing, but it’s true.
Sex offender laws will change if we pass Prop 83
84 protects our state from floods. It’s a lot like Prop One-E.

85 requires aborting teens to first inform their folks
Prop 86 funds health programs with another tax on smokes.
There’s just a few more measures to sing of in this song
So hang on friends, we’re near the end, you should all be singing along
It’s the Proposition Song
‘Cause the ballot is too darn long!

If we pass Prop 87, the oil companies
Will pay a tax to fund alternative energy.
Prop 88 would raise taxes to help fund public schools
Prop 89 would rearrange state campaign funding rules.
This lesson’s almost over, just one more prop remains
Prop 90 curbs your city’s use of eminent domain.
It’s the Proposition Song
Let’s all be singing along
‘Cause the ballot is too darn long!

View the video here.  Personally, I think it’s better as a crunk rap than a traditional folk song.  But hey, that’s just me.

Angelides press conference in Sacramento

My wife reports that gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides is making a speech right now in front of the fire station near Stockton & Broadway. It’s a charming Spanish style building but I can’t find a picture of it right now; I’ll add a screen grab from one of the news stations when it makes the Web. (The FCC probably appreciates when copyright violators give plenty of warning!)

But more importantly, in her research she uncovered a Phil Angelides MySpace page! (I can’t view it from work but she says it does not disappoint…)

With 0% Precincts Reporting, SacRag reports…

…that John Doolittle will win his seat.

Yes, we are that damn good.  We know how to read the signs, the indicators, and the will of the people.  And the intentions incompetence of election administrators:

 AP) SACRAMENTO After receiving dozens of complaints, Sacramento County election officials said Monday they will send letters to 40,000 absentee voters telling them to check their ballots for errors.

By Monday evening — a week after absentee ballots were mailed — more than 50 people had called to report ballots that were flawed or incomplete, officials said. Most of those reporting errors said they received two of the same ballot cards instead of two different double-sided cards…

As a result, the county asked its mailing firm, Admail West, to take extra precautions to avoid errors.

Admail West officials said Monday that the latest problem was with the printer and not their company

Democracy.  Done Right.

MySpace and the Secret Service

Did you all read the front page Bee story today on the McClatchy High freshman, Julia Wilson, who was questioned by the secret service without her parents present because she wrote “Kill Bush” on her MySpace page?

Sure, that sounds outrageous, but apparently state law does not require parental notification when law enforcement officials want to question a student during school hours. And actually, the mother was notified when the agents knocked on her door, but she “asked the agents to come back in an hour,” apparently mistaking Federal agents with the Fuller Brush Man.
Continue reading “MySpace and the Secret Service”

Presidents, beware

SacBee.com has a breaking news story regarding the arrest of a Sacramento-area man accused of “sending threatening letters containing a powdery substance to the El Dorado Hills country club where President Bush will appear Tuesday.”

Hmmmmm … seems Sacramento isn’t a great place for presidents to visit. Remember Squeaky Fromme, who tried to kill President Ford in Capitol Park?

When illegal activity is outlawed…

…only outlaws will commit illegal activity. In the last week or so I’ve seen two major news stories evolve into the passage of new laws, and in each case I’m confused. (This happens a lot, as you’ve guessed.)

First, a new law sparked by the HP leak investigation that outlaws “pretexting,” or the use of fraud to obtain phone records. Isn’t “fraud” already illegal? Does this mean that it is currently legal to use fraud to obtain, say, a jelly donut? Isn’t the whole point of fraud that you are utilizing it to obtain something that you don’t have a right to? What’s next, a law outlawing obtaining phone records by moving your fists in a fast motion into contact with another person’s face?

Second, the new “hazing” law, sparked by hazing deaths in recent years at Chico State, primarily a death in which the victim was forced to drink gallons of water and died from water poisoning. Shouldn’t there already be a law that covers that, too? If you convince your “friend” to run along a ledge on a tall building and he falls to his death, aren’t you guilty of some sort of crime? Or do we need to rush a “ledge-running” law out there.
Continue reading “When illegal activity is outlawed…”

Did you get the memo?

The County is on strike.

While it sucks that they haven’t sent out a formal notice (that I know of) regarding the strike and what to do with our garbage, it doesn’t mean that those of us serviced by them should not make every attempt to stay informed.

Seriously, any local news organization‘s Web site can provide daily updates, but I suggest visiting the sacgreenteam.com site for the latest specifics. While you are there you can learn more about your garbage and how to dispose of it properly. And if you use this forum to tell me that not all folks have access to the internet you’re probably the same type of person that uses the “REPLY ALL” feature to tell people to stop replying all to spam and global solicitations…

For those of you that use this here web log as your only source of information pertaining to Sacramento (hey, you’re out there, I know it!), please be advised of the following:

Due to the current labor action by County workers, solid waste collection activities have been suspended. When collection crews return to work, the County will resume its regular collection pick-up schedule. In the meantime, please continue to place your containers out for collection on your normal pick-up day in the event we can assemble a crew to collect your materials. If uncollected, return your cans to your yard until your next regular collection day and store all overflow materials in plastic trash bags.

That means put your cans back in your yard, dammit!