Free Republic

Here is a story on how CBS tried to cancel the Charlie Brown Christmas Story. Some stories just need reporting…so we don’t forget some of the heroes of our past. I have paid attention to anything Charles Schultz since I played hockey with his grandson years ago. I was listening to KTKZ am radio on the way to work the other day when Mike Gallagher, the morning host, told this amazing story about CBS, Charlie Brown's Christmas and Mr. Schultz. So I did a little fact checking to confirm it and here is what I discovered. Here are some notes...

A rather peculiar email attempts to address the question: “Where is Steve Poizner’s Campaign for Governor?” It’s a good question; where is the heartbeat, the pulse of media advertisements that cast mass messaging and marketing appeal? As we spill November into December, preparing to leave 2009 behind, there has been nothing from the self-made millionaire, and some people are beginning to ask pointed questions. Here is the only statewide incumbent candidate running inside of a heated Republican gubernatorial race, and Steve Poizner has yet to utilize one radio, television or major marketing tool since his announcement earlier in 2009. Today,...

A rather peculiar email attempts to address the question: “Where is Steve Poizner’s Campaign for Governor?” It’s a good question; where is the heartbeat, the pulse of media advertisements that cast mass messaging and marketing appeal? As we spill November into December, preparing to leave 2009 behind, there has been nothing from the self-made millionaire, and some people are beginning to ask pointed questions. Here is the only statewide incumbent candidate running inside of a heated Republican gubernatorial race, and Steve Poizner has yet to utilize one radio, television or major marketing tool since his announcement earlier in 2009. Today,...

thought with this administration we were going to get our coalition partners to be on equal footing with us? Officials in Brussels says Obama will be asking Nato allies to provide up to 10,000 extra troops. Asking? How about a demand… and if you don’t we pull out and you all can fight this stinking war yourselves! The US currently has 68,000 troops in Afghanistan, with foreign forces overall totalling more than 100,000. The additional American soldiers are expected to focus on tackling the Taliban in volatile southern and eastern Afghanistan. A senior Pentagon official said the new troops will...

Jobs for men are becoming extinct; the gender gap is skyrocketing as men continue to lose more jobs than women. America was promised that the Obama Stimulus Package would rival FDR’s “shovel ready projects” of years gone by, producing jobs and incomes for families in the midst of a great recession. Obama has released $787 billion worth of stimulus back into the populace – and we are still watching the escalation of male jobs being removed from the marketplace. Last month the national unemployment rate climbed above 10-percent for the first time in more than a quarter century, most of...

If this is what she thought was a stupid idea when Bush was the president, I wonder what she will say about Obama tomorrow night when he explains why he is sending 35,000 of out men and women into Afghanistan? Will she come out now and embrace the same strategy that Bush used to win the war in Iraq or will she condemn it like she did on this video? Will she stand up for her own beliefs or tow the party line and go with the President? Will she flip flop now because her party holds the executive office,...

She will be placed on the US Supreme Court, as should have Miguel Estrada when President Bush nominated him as a Latino candidate for the DC Circuit Court – one of the highest courts in the land. The difference being, Estrada was attacked, and Sotomayor will be handled gently by the weak Republican leaders in the US Senate Confirmation Hearings. My biggest concern is simple: “Will a white man before the high bench be forever changed in America’s Constitutional Law?” More than a white woman, Judge Sotomayor has a direct ideology as it relates to white men and civil, judiciary...

Last Friday in Auburn, California, the Placer County Republican Party hosted a “Candidates Reception” at the Elk’s Lodge. As the evening was drawing to a close, and the ‘question and answer’ session was winding down, there was one more inquisitive participant in the back of the room. “This question is for any of the candidates who want to answer; who are you supporting for the gubernatorial primary race?” There was an uneasy feeling throughout the room. The only Republican who has placed his fingerprints on a recent state budget is Campbell. A former South Bay congressman, handled the California budget...

Since Carly is grabbing some major news over the holiday break, one story that seems to be ignored is HP's selling of nukes-tech to Iran...and DeVore's charges. Assemblyman Churck DeVore sure isn’t afraid to make the charge that his opponent is unfit for office, and possibly her American citizenship. The ever-conservative Chuck DeVore joined me for a very brief conversation on Wednesday’s “Capitol Hour”; his short stint consequentially provided me with some long hours of news coverage. While we were discussing Carly Fiorina’s voting record to start our dialogue - the same type of conversation that Gubernatorial Candidate Meg Whitman...

Thanksgiving produced many conversation, one surrounding the riches of eMeg, and if she is buying the governor's race for the GOP. There seems to be a new mantra that says, “Republicans are making a mistake in supporting wealthy candidates like Meg Whitman in the gubernatorial primary race; she is just too wealthy to be supported as a candidate.” After reading the bottom-line in the LA Times Wednesday, it seems that GOP voters are beside themselves. How can we vote for a woman who has, and spends, so much of her own money? More at the link...

Say what you will about the multi-threads of strategy encompassing State Senator Abel Maldonado’s pending nomination to be the next Lt. Governor of California, it becomes a harbinger for conservative Republican State Senator Sam Aanestad. Now that moderate Republican Abel Maldonado, (upon confirmation), has entered the race through the front door – as a selected incumbent – Abel is more than able to serve himself against the two conservative vote splitters in the primary. This end-game speed bump is buried by the immediate frenzy of schemes considered with the “Conan and Abel” confirmation process, whether the Democrats affirm to confirm...

Did the White House overlook allegations of sexual misconduct against Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson prior to his election, saving the city millions of federal stimulus dollars? "The money was given to St. Hope to finance AmeriCorps members, who are basically volunteers that they call members, to do tutoring in schools among disadvantaged students. It's a great program," Walpin told Eric Hogue of Hogue News in July. "My investigation found they didn't use the AmeriCorps members for tutoring; they used them to drive Mr. Johnson around, to wash his car, to do all sorts of janitorial and administrative work which the...

If you’re a public employee union member of the CTA, or SEIU, you’re qualified to apply and sit on the commission. How can that be; shouldn’t someone who pays union dues to a huge political influence like the public employee unions be considered a politically involved citizen in the process of campaigns and legislation that comes from votes in the Capitol? These employees and union members, administration officials and bosses stand to directly benefit if the district lines produce more sympathetic politicos who eventually vote for contracts, pension plans and government workforce numbers. Worse yet, will we see ACORN organize...

Well after an insightful discussion on The Capitol Hour this afternoon regarding the merits of continuing to use precious resources on the relatively meaningless position of Lieutenant Governor, Governor Schwarzenegger has made his appointment for the most important useless job in the state. The Governor’s choice for California’s next Lieutenant Governor is Former State Senator from Santa Maria Abel Maldonado. Sources say that it came down to Maldonado and Dave Cogdill, and we had Cogdill pinned as favorite here. But for the record Maldonado was my initial favorite months ago when it was first determined that Garamendi would be vacating...

Could the Public Employee Unions commandeer the Citizens Redistricting Commission? Coming December 15th, the California State Auditor’s Office will begin receiving applications for the new “Rock Star Commission”, a group of normal citizens who will be selected to re-draw the lines of California’s State Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization Districts starting with the elections in 2012. In a previous HOGUE NEWS exclusive piece, I revealed the importance of this commission and the power they will be handed in determining California’s future. I am excited that California will remove the politicians from the census process of drawing district lines for...

More allegations that Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson was protected by the Obama Administration released today. Did the Obama Administration cover-up sexual misconduct charges for Mayor Johnson, in order to save his election, and the Capitol City millions of federal dollars? A joint report released today by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Senate Finance Committee Republican offers new insight into the political maneuvering at the White House to remove the Inspector General for the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) Gerald Walpin and revealed explosive allegations (see pages 24-30 of Just Released Walpin Referral Document) of...

Why does California have a Lt. Governor's office AND a Secretary of State's office? How much money could we (California) save if we removed the giblets this Thanksgiving? Enjoy my latest piece, if you are interested in Constitutional politics this evening... As we move toward a thankful break this Thursday, I want to offer a small dish of giblets. If you spend any amount of time preparing for the holiday feast, you are familiar with the Thanksgiving giblets; in most homes these giblets are unwanted parts that are quickly tossed into the trash or fed to the family dog. The...

My attempt to squash your romantic view of Thanksgiving! Mayflower Myths:The reason that we have so many myths associated with Thanksgiving is that it is an invented tradition. It doesn’t originate in any one event. It is based on the New England puritan Thanksgiving, which is a religious Thanksgiving, and the traditional harvest celebrations of England and New England and maybe other ideas like commemorating the pilgrims. All of these have been gathered together and transformed into something different from the original parts. James W. Baker Senior Historian at Plymouth Plantation. There are more at the link...

I'd love to read your opinions of the Fiorina versus DeVore race. Here is an earlier piece I wrote; working on a follow-up for the Thanksgiving break: The charge that State Assemblyman Churck DeVore is making; “don’t be fooled again”. California has its own Dede Scozzafava in the GOP’s newest candidate, Carly Fiorina. On Thursday afternoon I spoke with Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, candidate for US Senate himself. A day after Carly Fiorina’s launch into the primary race, DeVore reiterated his charge that she is a moderate, a centrist, and a pragmatic individual – who has waffled on major issues and...

Being only a few years removed from college, I have a unique perspective on the fee hikes that the UC Board of Regents approved earlier this week. A previous article on HOGUE NEWS comprehensively covered the waste that exists in the University of California, but there are still several glaring problems with the UC, some of which can easily be solved. To begin with, all of the members of the Board of Regents are appointed by the governor to serve a 12-year term on the board. Many times the individuals on this board are no more qualified than you or...