California Roundup: Who Won? Who Pays? Who's Stoned? And More

* Late reviews of Carly Fiorina/Barbara Boxer debate: Sac Bee's Dan Walters says Boxer won. OC Register's Brian Joseph calls the whole debate a "dud" and a "letdown," while 58 percent of Register readers give the win to Carly in a web poll. SF Chronicle's Joe Garofoli on Carly and Barb's "bare-knuckled exchanges." CalBuzz calls it a draw in which Fiorina "did not do what she had to do — kneecap Barbara  Boxer or force her to make a mistake." Contra Costa Times' Josh Richman starts out with a long don't-read-me ("As per usual, there was a lot more to the story of tonight's semi-epic debate between U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer and Republican senatorial nominee Carly Fiorina debate than I could fit into the story for tomorrow's editions…"), then gives play-by-play. Chronicle's Drew Joseph has a fact-check.

* Is Gov. Schwarzenegger raising taxes on the masses? Last week the governor speculated about lowering state taxes on income, corporations and sales, and replacing that revenue with sales taxes on "all services" in California. Legislative analyst explains that a regressive tax would result in "a greater benefit to higher-income people. I think lower- to middle-income (people) would probably pay more."

* More shenanigans from the "town" of Vernon: City attorneys class themselves as public safety employees, get better benefits. The justification (which naturally passed CalPERS' smell test) seems to have been that district attorneys in L.A. want (but do not receive) treatment as public safety officers because they deal in criminal prosecution. However, city attorneys, whose job is to handle lawsuits and plead out misdemeanor cases, have no such claim. Former Vernon police chief tells the L.A. Times "he could not recall a single instance when Vernon's city attorneys appeared in criminal court."

* The system is the consciousness getting high: New agey L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca says medical marijuana programs have been "hijacked by underground drug-dealing criminals who are resorting to violence in order to control their piece of the action."

* Dodger Debt: L.A. Times hires an accountant to go over financial records in the divorce of Frank and Jamie McCourt, and finds that when the L.A. Dodgers owner and his estranged wife split the proceeds, they may end up with "about 10 cents on the dollar."

And if you can handle the Senate version of Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte, here are some highlights from the Carly/Barb dustup:

Comments

[Angry citizen of Vernon]

"he could not recall a single instance when Vernon's city attorneys appeared in criminal court."

Oh they will.... they will.

[Paul]

when the L.A. Dodgers owner and his estranged wife split the proceeds, they may end up with "about 10 cents on the dollar."

Ain't marriage grand?

[The Wine Commonsewer]

I would vote for anyone who ran against Boxer.

[Enough About Palin]

Hello! Where the fuck you been?

[Apologetic California]

It wasn't as bitchy a debate as I hoped. What's the point of selecting two women candidates and not have them scratch each other's eyes out?

[Leroy]

Since I don't think this thread is going to get a lot of comments, I want to hijack it.

So one of my roommates started her college classes this week. On the first day of class, her American Government professor told the class that they should get their news from (I'm not making this up) The Daily Show.

A College Professor telling students to watch Comedy Central for their news... is it just me or is that crazy?

[cynical]

At least he didn't say MSNBC.

[Douglas Fletcher]

It'll help keep them from noticed what a dumbass they have for a professor.

Not that there are very many of those.

[Ken Shultz]

"Legislative analyst explains that a regressive tax would result in "a greater benefit to higher-income people. I think lower- to middle-income (people) would probably pay more."

Keeping taxes prohibitively high on the wealthy wouldn't matter so much... If only the job market depended on low-income people hiring higher-income people to work for them.

But that isn't the way it works. The fact is that higher income people have more money than the others with which to do productive things. They expand their businesses with extra money, they hire people with it, they invest it...

California has a lot of problems right now--policies that actively discourage high-income people from hiring, expanding their businesses and profiting from that is one of the biggest.

Somebody once asked Willy Sutton, a depression era bank robber, "Why do you rob banks, Willy?" He's said to have replied, "'cause that's where the money is."

Why should we cut taxes on the wealthy? 'cause that's where the investment money is! Sheesh.

Personally? I'd just as soon cut taxes across the board; regardless, beating the goose to death isn't about to make it lay any golden eggs. ...and whether the poor are hungry is completely beside the point.

They're gonna get a lot hungrier if we don't see some growth pretty soon--and money doesn't grow on trees.

[Francis]

The m?l?e over illegal immigration has just begun and the Tea Party members, Conservatives and independents should be mindful of Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer of Californians record. Boxer debated candidate Republican challenger Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, for US Senate seat, confronting each other in the first of their debates this election season. Fiorina took the lead in in the political discussion that was informative, even when both contributors were argumentative. Voters must make the best assessment between the two very dissimilar candidates, from opposed ends of their political philosophy. Both opinionated over how to best construct a jobs program; about their records in the environment, business sector, public, foreign policy, the economy and internal government strife and even abortion. This first upfront in the face debate was barbed, in a performance of competing arguments with the candidates in an all-out attack on each other's records.

The questions were balanced from voters, but discord remained as the smear tactics continued losing sight in some cases of the original questioning. In the offset it came to voter's questions about immigration, which as now surfaced as a red-hot button issue commencing with the federal lawsuit against the state of Arizona. Even the sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa county is being dragged over the tiles for exerting his state authority to apprehend illegal aliens. Unless I missed it on C-SPAN there was no mention of Immigration Chief John Morton with ICE arresting only criminals and releasing thousands of illegal aliens back on the streets, in a De Facto Amnesty. Although Madam Fiorina supports the "Dream Act" it must be noted she does not agree with any AMNESTY. The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act would provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented students who came to the United States as minors and finished high school.

Boxer on the other hand believed in Comprehensive Immigration Reform, known by most prudent Americans as Amnesty. This would commence with a massive expenditure to taxpayers, through forced taxes to pay for Amnesty, with welfare programs not far behind. Like her counterpart Sen. Harry Reid, her stance on stopping illegal immigration is in one word" Un-American" She is obviously for an open border because her record shows that. Voted--YES--on continuing federal funds for declared "Sanctuary Cities". Bill Table S.Amdt.4309 to S.Con.Res ; on Mar 13, 2008. Voted--YES--on comprehensive Immigration reform Bill S.1639 ; on Jun 28, 2007. Voted--NO--on declaring English as the official language of the US Government Bill. S.Amdt.1151 to S.1348 ; on Jun 6, 2007. Voted--YES--on eliminating the "Y" nonimmigrant guest worker visa Bill S.Amdt.1153 on S.1348 ; on May 22, 2007. Voted--YES--on building a fence along the Mexican border. Bill H R 6061 ; on Sep 29, 2006. The 2006 Secure Fence Bill was a fallacy, as it wasn't built as originally intended and still remains uncompleted. Voted--YES--on establishing a Guest Worker program. Bill S. 2611 ; on May 25, 2006.

VOTED--YES--ON ALLOWING ILLEGAL ALIENS TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR SOCIAL SECURITY Bill S.Amdt.3985 to S.2611 ; on May 18, 2006. Voted?NO-- on allowing more foreign workers into the US for agricultural work. Bill S.2260 ; on Jul 23, 1998. Voted--YES--on a visa for skilled workers. Bill S. 1723 ; on May 18, 1998. Voted--NO--on limiting welfare for immigrants. Bill S.947 ; on Jun 24, 1997. SPONSORED PROVIDING FUNDING FOR SOCIAL SERVICES FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS. Funding (S.AMDT.4072 to S.2611) 06-SP4072 on May 18, 2006. According to NumbersUSA website Sen. Boxer has a "D" in Immigration enforcement and her stance categorizes her, with an open border mentality. The majority of Democrats have already breeched their oath of Allegiance to the American people, by catering more to the health care, education and other benefits to the illegal alien invasion force, while in many states the underprivileged citizens are either turned away or left to their own devices?when it comes to public assistance.

California is a?SANCTUARY CITY?and state, supported by lawmakers such as Senator Boxer. California has become a harbor for millions of illegal aliens that are benefiting from a damaged federal, state and county entitlement system. In part it has been compromised by hundreds of thousands of instant-citizenship for babies of illegal aliens, tapping into all manner of cash payments and so much more, leaving the state's welfare system dragging its tail. Overall billions of your tax dollars are being swallowed up by people who shouldn't be here--nationwide. We have a good chance now to remove all pro-amnesty, pro-illegal immigrant politicians and all elected officials and elect new unblemished legislators. Warn your Senator or Congressman by calling the Washington switchboard 202-224-3121. If you are not in-line with the peoples wishes, you will be out in November.

Making room in the jobless line isn't just about removing incumbents, Anti Liberal, Anti-Democrat or most issues. Even Medical Care reform is not the major issue. Its about the failure of both parties to listen to the American people. One major issue is illegal immigration and taxpayers have the IRS extorting money from them, to pay for every conceivable entitlement that Americans cannot get. The lies about the border fence and not following the design of the 2006 Secure Fence act .It's about incomprehensible billions of dollars that we are spending on corporate welfare--as the pay nothing to illegal workers other then wages; not the education of their children, health care, unemployment benefits or undisclosed social programs. We the taxpayers are the dumb fools who pay for it all? Millions are slipping past the border and it will never, ever stop, until we have politicians who are working for the American people. They are taking low skilled and manual labor jobs and lowering wages to an estimate of $200 billion a year.

[Rick]

All in favor of ceding California back to Mexico? Aye.

[Douglas Fletcher]

They won't take it.