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Duke Cunningham Can't Have Gun
Ooooh, I did.— May 27, 2012 6:39 a.m.
Voter Survey: Smokers' Tax Losing Support, Brown Tax Proposal Remains Strong
The only good poll is the one taken outside the polling site, where the ones that already voted tell how they voted. But that's after the fact. This is a far ranging compilation. But I'd like to focus on the cigarette tax. Is Prop 29 meant to be a money raising effort, or a deterent? Either choice might be a good reason, but which is it? If it's a deterent then maybe that's the reason I can't vote for it. Long ago, my Dad used to walk over to Mexico to buy my Mom cheap cigarettes. He had quit himself, years earlier, but they had a limited retirement income, and he saw this as one way to help out. When she finally quit, though, it was for health reasons, not financial ones. Money wasn't the object, she said. It was logic. I didn't vote for Prop 15, and I don't own a gun. Y'all remember Prop 15 don't ya? That's the one which would have limited the number of handguns available in our state to those already here? I would have been first one in line at the local gunshop had that passed. I didn't own a gun. Just didn't want my rights to own a gun limited, should I ever want one. Similar thing with cigarette taxes. I don't smoke (don't like the smell), but I don't think it's right to punish those that do with excessive taxes. If it's a money raising effort for research, then I question that. Aren't we already funding stem cell reaseach which will benefit everybody? Where does it stop? I mean, we can't save humanity in this one state. I'll vote against it. But since I really don't have a pulse for the electorate, I can't make a prediction how others will. At best, It should be a national effort. I'm just not hearing the right questions (and answers) in the journalistic debate.— May 23, 2012 11:09 p.m.
50,000 Absentee Ballots Already Cast for June 5 Primary
I vote. I've been doing so since 1978. And, because of what happened to me in 1976, I do so by mail. I had joined the Army that year. I was in training during most of the presidential race. My generation was denied the right to vote at 18, (I would have voted aginst Nixon in '72 if I had been 'majority' then), but in my first possible presidential race, 1976, I had no one advising me how to vote in my home state. I was being shipped overseas to "serve my country" at election time. I vowed to NEVER let that happen again. When the 1978 off-year election came around, I was the ONLY enlisted man in my 300 person Company that requested to vote absentee. I know this because an Officer asssigned to help anyone interested in voting told me that. From the military onward, my jobs have always been of the type where I'm on call to travel at a moment's notice. I live in San Diego, own property in San Diego, went to college in San Diego, and vote in San Diego. But because I can't guarantee I'll be **IN** San Diego on any election day, I vote permanently by mail. But I VOTE. And I do try to wait until the week of the election to do so. But, in this increasingly mobile society of ours (I'm in Florida writing this), I must vote by mail. I always say, if you don't like what's going on in government, yet you didn't vote, then shut the hell up. Could you vote in 1972, Visduh? If so, whom did you vote for president then?— May 19, 2012 4:07 a.m.
State Controller Weighs in on Prop A
Not that I'm for or against this proposition, but how does this take away our 'independence?.' Seems to me, it's re-enforcing it. That's pretty much the definition of independence, isn't it? Money from one governmental entity to another always comes with conditions. If this passes, I understand it'll wind up in court. America, land of the free, home of the independent? And by the way, I'm not a union member, or government employee, or even Democrat. Just a realist. I work in private industry (on many construction projects), and pay an inordinate amount of taxes on my middle class earnings. Prop A does not reflect *my* local desires. And I do understand the proposition.— May 2, 2012 6:50 p.m.
Strange Political Bedfellows: Brian Maienschein and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel
Yo, Matt. Too man 'and's in your last sentence, Confusing. As for the subject, if the red light cameras were only allowed to ticket red light drive throughs, instead of the 85% ticket rate for rolling right hand turns, then they'd get more support. That's why law abiding citizens hate them. It would also be nice to know just how much of the violation payment goes to the government, and how much goes to Redflex. Also be nice to have that breakdown on the ticket.— April 24, 2012 7:13 p.m.
SDGE Smart Meter Opt-Out Plan Approved
Actually, my SDG&E meter is just next to the window of a TV room in my house, and a sofa that I utilize for hours at time. I actually do sleep there at times. I don't work for SDG&E, but I work in the industry, and I see real dangers in my job, (125KV overhead lines, asbestos, who knows what else, maybe even PCBs). I also tested and calibrated microwave hazard meters for 3 years in laboratory power density chambers while earning my electrical engineering degree from SDSU. Believe it or not, electrical workers themselves are always on the lookout for dangers in their jobs. The safety departments are always coming up with something new to watch out for. We don't discount anything. But this one just seems too far fetched, and actually derivative of a general distrust of radio waves themselves, from decades past. So go ahead and do what you think is safe, or not. My real life experience in the industry says this is not a real safety issue.— April 20, 2012 4:27 p.m.
SDGE Smart Meter Opt-Out Plan Approved
Right, bring on the studies. In fact, let's get some 'independent' outsiders to administer the funding of them. Like perhaps UCAN, and Michael Shames? And whom should be paid to conduct the 'independent' studies. Why, disinterested experts, like those on the board of electrosmogprevention.org, I assume? Gimme a break. This whole issue belongs in the same round file with flouridated water and polio shots. I suggest those persons worried about 'electrosmog' move to a country with lots of undeveloped areas. Electrosmog. Jeez, I've got to warn my safety department about this one. Thanks for the laugh.— April 20, 2012 7:56 a.m.
Lawyer, Mother Convicted in Mortgage Scam
Having bought eight California houses in the past years, and sold five, I would like to agree with you, but I can't. I've had my problems with mortgage people that flat out lie, and yet others were extremely helpful. Same with the sales agents. Some are so full of it, their eyes are brown, yet others have been unbelievably helpful. But no one enters that industry because they hear a higher call to help people (as the ads would have you believe). It's all about the bucks.— April 19, 2012 5:33 a.m.
Nathan Fletcher To Run 950 Ads on Cox and Time Warner Cable
I feel slighted. I have AT&T Uverse.— April 18, 2012 7:43 p.m.
Nathan Fletcher Buys Flurry of Local TV Ads
What's rotten about these actions? I, (and a heck of a lot of other San Diegans) like them. Does the departure bother you more if it had been in the planning for a long time, or if it was last minute decision? Doesn't matter either way to the undecided voters. The other major candidates just seem to be playing to their same ol' base, and hoping that base will carry them beyond the primary. I know now that Fletcher has a good chance of being one of the top two winners in the primary. San Diego has so many independent voters. Democratic leaning voters now have someone to vote for beyond Filner, who frankly does not project well as a mayor. And Republican leaners now have a pragmatic alternative to an abrasive candidate who seems more negative than positive. I mean, honestly, party regulars (Democrat or Republican) had to hold their noses to cast a vote for either DeMaio or Filner. Now there's a legitimate 3rd option. It's not a rotten smell that's attracting the attention outside the city. It's the fresh air. Calculated or not, His signs are popping up all over the city (not Demaio's, or Filner's, Or Dumanis'). His candidacy now has a real grass roots feel to it. But unlike Ron Paul, he's running in a contest that's **supposed** to be non-partisan. As you point out, time will tell.— April 15, 2012 6:15 a.m.