I was able to catch most of the State of the Union last night, and before the President even entered the gallery, I was struck by a few things. One being Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez in her “Nancy Reagan red” suit yet again. She loves red suits, and she’s always in an aisle seat for the [...]
Entries from January 2010
Some reactions to President Obama’s State of Union Address
January 28th, 2010 · 7 Comments
Tags: Barack Obama · Congressman Joe Baca · Education · health care · Immigration · Rep. Loretta Sanchez · Supreme Court
California Senate Education Consultant Melinda Melendez dies
January 26th, 2010 · 1 Comment
It is often the staffers and unnamed worker bees who keep the public policy wheels turning in Washington, D.C. and in the state capitols across the US. In California, I have met dozens of talented staffers who know the ins and outs of various policy areas, and often, they are much better versed on the [...]
Tags: CA State Senator Gloria Romero · Education
The Corporate States of America
January 26th, 2010 · 3 Comments
Well, it has been about a week since the United State Supreme Court ruled in the Citizens United case that corporate entities have “personhood” in that they can utilize the first amendment to spend in campaigns. Essentially, the floodgates have been opened, and both corporations and unions will get to drown out the smaller individual [...]
Tags: community organizing and activism · Government Accountability · John McCain · Presidential Elections · Supreme Court
Latinos & the MA Senate Election
January 22nd, 2010 · 9 Comments
This week the President and the Democratic leadership were handed a huge blow in Massachusetts with the seat once held by Senator Kennedy, who passed away in August, now going to Scott Brown, the former Cosmopolitan “sexy man.” I think that the Democrats took it for granted that Senator Kennedy was holding this seat warm [...]
Tags: community organizing and activism · Democratic Party · Education · GOP · health care · Immigration · Kennedys · Republican Party
Villaraigosa tries acting opposite Susan Lucci!
January 15th, 2010 · 5 Comments
We have discussed Mayor Villaraigosa (or Villar as many of you like to call him) and his penchant for jet setting and hanging out with celebrities. Back in March of last year, the AP even did an article asking if Villaraigosa was a “Hollywood hype” or a “heavy hitter” that we subsequently blogged about. Well, [...]
Tags: Antonio Villaraigosa
DHS & Obama Administration displays some compassion for Haitian Immigrants
January 15th, 2010 · No Comments
The Department of Homeland Security has granted Haitians who are currently in the US illegally temporary protected status (TPS). Many pro-migrant groups, along with religious organizations like the Catholic Church, were pushing for this in recent days because it simply does not make sense to deport undocumented Haitians back to a country in chaos. As [...]
Tags: Department of Homeland Security · Immigration
2 New Studies about Immigration & Economic Impacts
January 12th, 2010 · 8 Comments
Within the past week, both UCLA and USC have come out with studies that suggest that legalizing undocumented immigrants could help boost the economy because if legalized, as their earnings would rise along with spending. USC economist Manuel Pastor’s study suggests that amnesty for the undocumented would increase the state and local tax base in [...]
Tags: Economics · Immigration
Yet Another Reason to Turn Off the TV: Sarah Palin
January 11th, 2010 · 8 Comments
I do believe that the television, at least major network and cable television, has become so terrible in quality that it isn’t worth turning on except to possibly watch a DVD or PBS. I know that some in this Great Recession have opted to cancel their cable and don’t seem to be missing out on [...]
Tags: Media · Sarah Palin



