Conservative Republican Assemblymember Chuck DeVore stopped by the conservative OC Blog to talk about his legislation with progressive San Francisco Assemblymember Mark Leno. As you can imagine, some of the readers weren't exactly thrilled to see DeVore working with Leno (just like some here might feel about Leno teaming up with DeVore). But it is good to see two lawmakers from opposite sides of the aisle work together to pass common sense legislation that is popular.
OK, so it's my birthday today...
And I still have so many things to do...
So here's a new weekend tradition that I'm starting here...
Yes, I'm starting it just for you! SURREAL OC WEEKEND!
Want to see how progressives are answering to DeVore's wingnuttiness, and what a prominent GOP consultant gave me for my birthday, and a special birthday surprise that I'm giving you? Follow me after for the flip for more! : )
OK, so I'm feeling tired today...
And I still have so many things to do...
So here's a new weekend tradition that I'm starting here...
Yes, I'm starting it just for you! SURREAL OC WEEKEND!
- Chuck DeVore surprises me again! After seeing that DeVore is teaming up with Mark Leno again to push legislation legalizing industrial hemp, I was quite blown away... UNTIL I SAW THIS!! "Breaking the cycle of recidivism will alleviate the severe overcrowding that is crippling our correctional system... The ability to offer focused drug treatment will not only help people stay out of prison and rebuild their lives, it will go a long way towards keeping our homes and streets safer." And yes, AB 716 is co-authored by Democrat Mervyn Dymally. Now if only we could get Arnold to care about real solutions to this real problem...
Here are some wild and wonderful stories from behind the Orange Curtain, and direct from our friends at the Orange County GOP, that will make you laugh, cry, and scratch your head in total disbelief:
- Meet the Godfather. Who ever knew that "Godfather" Mike Schroeder would allow Don Daucher, husband of former (moderate GOPer) Assemblymember Lynn Daucher, to make nice with him. I guess Trung Nguyen really is bringing everyone together...
- And speaking of Mr. Photoshop... The California Republican Lawyers' Association has agreed to help Trung Nguyen in the recount. And why? Because "Ms. [Janet] Nguyen claims to be a Republican, and we found it puzzling she has involved so many Democrat Attorneys." 'Cuz ya know, them Democrat Attorneys like to make sure that elections ain't stolen, and they care about the law...
And it ain't that much fun to win an election legally... hehe ; )
- DeVore's Smokin'!! OK, maybe not... But our favorite Irvine Assemblymember is teaming up with Mark Leno (??!!) to reintroduce legislation that would legalize industrial hemp. As DeVore says in a recent interview with the ABC affiliate in SF, "It's absolutely criminal that American farmers, the most productive and efficient farmers on the planet, cannot be allowed to grow a naturally occurring plant, that grows wild in America." Wow, I actually agree with DeVore on something...
So, I'm doing this one from the Phoenix airport, where I'm delayed due to the fact that U.S. Airways/AmericaWest/whatever they want to call themselves today really sucks. But on the bright side, they have free WiFi here. Also, we had a little down time this afternoon. Sorry about that.
This is a pretty long roundup, so let's get straight to the teasers: Presidential primary chatter, Health care...um, we need it., George Runner is a tool (but we already knew that), Two speakers who kick ass: Nancy, and Fabian the blogger, Doolittle's a changed man...kinda...sorta...well, not so much, Is Chuck DeVore on a witch terrorist hunt?, Maxine Waters wants us out of Iraq, Spocko's on the rise, CalPERS is investing in urban sprawl, Frank Luntz is a liar, and Irvine has a budget surplus!
One of the first items of business for the California legislature upon being sworn in yesterday was to reintroduce the gay marriage legalization bill which passed through both houses last year, only to be vetoed by the Governor. Writing on the OC Blog, Assemblyman Chuck DeVore decided to add a new argument to the gay marriage debate: it would embolden NAMBLA!
Mr. (Mark) Leno's bill hopelessly blurs the line of traditional marriage to the point that under the equal protection provisions of the Fourteenth Amendment as applied to the First Amendment, we might see a devout Saudi Arabian immigrant suing under religious discrimination reasons to allow him to have four wives in California. Or, we could see NAMBLA (North American Man-Boy Love Association) suing to lower the age of consent to allow relationships between adult males and boys. After all, if marriage is no longer marriage, then anything goes. I do not dispute that two people can love each other and care for each other, but marriage has been defined by thousands of years of tradition and experience. The Legislature ought not to take a step down this slippery slope.
This is the man-on-dog, man-on-box turtle, slippery-slope, "please save me from marrying my pet" argument made popular by noted maniac Rick Santorum. The idea that homosexuals are essentially on the same side of the dividing line as child molestors is outrageous. The only people who seem to think deeply about how "anything goes" if gay marriage were to be allowed are conservative legislators. Exactly what is it in their makeup that makes them so afraid of their capacity to be perverse? Hmm, maybe I've answered my own question.
