One day before the Reagan Library debate among Republican presidential candidates, GOP frontrunner Donald Trump delivered a speech aboard the World War II battleship Iowa in Los Angeles Harbor, hitting illegal immigration, trade deficits and national security. Nearby protesters all but drowned out the fiery rhetoric. Michael Finnegan and Kurtis Lee, LAT:
“Trump appeared unfazed by the loud and relentless taunting by demonstrators waving signs reading ‘Deport Trump!’ and ‘We’re All Anchor Babies.’ But the talkative New York real estate tycoon, whose speeches can exceed a full hour, spoke for just 13 minutes, packing his remarks, as usual, with superlatives.
“He pledged a military buildup that would force the leaders of Russia and Iran to respect America.
“’Nobody’s going to mess with us,’ he said.”
Speaking of Iowa, onetime Iowa frontrunner, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is getting blowback from California Republicans for his abrupt cancellation of his keynote address at the state party convention. Shane Goldmacher, Politico:
“Making matters worse, Walker’s decision came days before he is set to arrive in California anyway, for the second presidential debate, which will be held Wednesday in Simi Valley. California Republican Party Chairman Jim Brulte said the party heard from Walker’s campaign last Friday about canceling the keynote. ‘They did not give a reason,’ he said, though he called the decision ‘understandable.’
“’He was also at 18 percent in Iowa when he committed,’ Brulte said, ‘Now he’s at 3 [percent].’”
And speaking of the 2016 presidential, the LAT has a quick rundown on who is getting California’s donations.
Fresh off the whomping he took at the hands of Democratic moderates last week, Jerry Brown decried DC Republicans for refusing to act on climate change and vowed to continue his fight to increase the regulation of greenhouse gases. Chris Megerian, Los Angeles Times:
“Last week, Gov. Jerry Brown was struggling in Sacramento with some of his fellow Democrats who refused to support his goal of slashing gasoline use on state roads.
But on Tuesday in Los Angeles, where he attended a summit on climate change with American and Chinese leaders, he was targeting Republicans.
“Brown described ‘political pollution’ in Washington and said the refusal of the party's presidential candidates to tackle global warming is ‘nothing less than a dereliction of duty.’
"’They have failed to respond to a profoundly serious threat,’ the governor said.”
Marijuana is big business in the north state - before the governor has even signed the three bills passed last week to regulate medical marijuana, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors has begun drafting a large-scale grow ordinance. Will Houston, Eureka Times-Standard:
“’I think we’ve heard loud and clear that now is the moment to move forward,’ board Chairwoman and 2nd District Supervisor Estelle Fennell said. ‘We have asked all along that the state provide clarity and the state has moved forward.’
“The board’s unanimous direction also called for the county Counsel Jeffrey Blanck to begin looking through the three medical marijuana ordinances the board had already approved relating to indoor cultivation, cultivation on parcels smaller than 5 acres, and dispensaries to ensure they also comply with the proposed state regulations….
“Blanck told the board that local jurisdictions have a grace period until March 1, 2016 to adopt their own regulations on the industry. Should the county not adopt local rules by that date, the state’s regulations would be take effect for that jurisdiction until local regulations are adopted.”
California Democrats increasingly find themselves torn between new – and successful - tech ventures promoting the “Sharing Economy,” and old allies impacted by the changing times. Laurel Rosenhall, CALmatters:
“California-based companies that allow people to make money by “sharing” their homes and cars have hit the mainstream. Uber, the smartphone-based ride-hailing service, operates in 300 cities globally. And Airbnb, a website that allows homeowners to rent a room to vacationers, now has 55 million users around the world.
“The expansion has sparked predictable pushback from the traditional providers of rides and rooms: the taxi and hotel industries. Now union leaders are trying to convince Democrats that the trend in economic “sharing” represents a fundamental shift that will harm workers.
“Is this the future of our economy, where you have no security of getting a regular paycheck, no security... if something happened to you on the job?” said Angie Wei, a lobbyist for the California Labor Federation.
“…Wei worries ‘we’re losing on this issue. ... Uber has romanced legislators [into thinking] that they are a new, innovative company and that if you oppose Uber or their model, you’re opposing innovation.’”
As Tea Party Republicans in congress grow more frustrated with the leadership of Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif) of Bakersfield is being courted to be the chamber’s leader. Scott Wong, The Hill:
“One Freedom Caucus member involved in the discussions personally informed McCarthy over the summer recess that the majority leader could have his support for the top job in the event Boehner resigns or is forced out this fall.
“But there is no evidence that McCarthy, Boehner’s current deputy, has been involved in any discussions to remove the Speaker.
“’I don’t think [McCarthy’s] plotting. I don’t think he’s trying to aid and abet,’ said the conservative lawmaker. ‘I just think he is trying to figure out where everyone is.’”
And from our “Holy Pimp My Ride, Batman!” files: What would you do if you discovered that your Batman-obsessed boyfriend had cheated on you? Amy Estrada’s answer: Sell the Batmobile you bought him.
“When a Michigan woman found out her boyfriend was cheating, she took it in stride. She went to a few Vinyasa yoga classes, home-brewed some herbal tea… OK, just kidding. Amy Estrada didn't do any of that shit. She put her cheating ex-boyfriend's tricked out car for sale on Craigslist…
“’Tricked out Nitro, Batman style. Matte black paint job, Batman silver logos, decals. When you open the driver and passenger door, a batman logo shines down on the ground. I do have seat covers too that I did not have patience to put on. Bluetooth hooked up so you can talk hands free on the phone. Brand new radio touch screen that can play CD's, Pandora and even movies. If you are a Batman freak, this is the Batmobile for you. It is in my name, but I got it for my ex, who turned around and got all the extras paid for by his side chick.’
“Estrada said she paid for everything because ‘I thought that he was going to love me forever.’ But all that changed when she found out about the other woman
“A sign Estrada put on the car reads ‘When you are a liar and a cheater and an abuser and you have your side chick pay to trick out, customize and paint your 'Batmobile' your girlfriend (ex) who worker her ass off to get you that vehicle has it re-poed [sic]!! Bye 'Batman'!’"