It looks like Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has made his choice for the next chief justice of the state
Supreme Court. Maura Dolan reports, "Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to name 3rd District Court of
Appeal Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye as the next chief justice,
making her the first Asian American to lead the state's
judiciary and
giving the California Supreme Court a female majority
for the first time
in its history.
"Cantil-Sakauye, 50, a Sacramento native who rose through the trial
courts, served as deputy legislative secretary and
deputy legal affairs
secretary under former Gov. George Deukmejian. He plucked
her from the
Sacramento district attorney's office and later appointed
her to the
Sacramento Municipal Court."
Wait a minute -- Schwarzenegger appointing a Republican to the bench? That's gotta be a misprint, right?
From the Vargas-Salas recount files, our Southern California affiliates report VArgas has picked up votes in the early recounting of ballots in San Diego. According to Democrats on the ground in the county, Vargas has actually increased his lead over Salas as the counting of ballots begins in areas where Salas performed best. Stay tuned...
John Howard writes on the move by the Dan Schnur-led FPPC to tighten disclosure laws for independent expenditure committees.
"California’s political watchdog, inspired in part by language in a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case, is considering a new rule to force the disclosure of the names of donors who finance so-called “issue advocacy ads” – political advertisements that describe an issue but stop short of telling people how to vote.
The proposal, which drew fire from an array of political attorneys, could go into effect before the fall and apply to the Nov. 2 general election if the Fair Political Practices Commission approves it next month, although the actual timing of the regulation would depend on a number of other procedural issues, including regulatory review.
Roy Ashburn apologized for his past votes on gay rights, and called on his fellow Republicans to embrace equality for all, regardless of sexual orientation.
"It’s time for fair-minded Republicans to speak up for what our party really stands for—individual freedom and limited government. If we truly believe the greatness of America is founded on the individual achievements of ordinary citizens acting with the maximum amount of personal liberty, then there should be no debate over where Republicans stand on the rights of LGBT Americans.
"We stand for equality as well as opportunity. We stand for individuals living their lives without fear or limits imposed by a powerful government. We stand for a government of limited powers over citizens, including not being involved in the private lives of people. These tenets of Republican ideology call for bold action by our party when confronted with the real-life issues of discrimination against LGBT people.
"I am no longer willing, nor able to remain silent in the face of unequal and hurtful treatment of my community. It may have taken me a strange, incoherent and long path to get here, but this is where I find myself as a gay Republican Senator. It’s time for Republicans to find our way and fight for equal treatment for all people, especially the freedom to be unique and have our rights acknowledged and protected."
Meg Whitman says her campaign hasn't been "too negative" so far. In an interview on Good Day LA, Whitman said she was just doing what any candidate for governor would do. "
"Meeting you, you're lovely, you're a warm person," she said. "Seeing your ads, I'm a little afraid of you."
"The host asked, "Do you ever feel it's just gone too negative, your campaign has gone too negative?"
"Whitman said the ads are necessary to "set the record straight on Jerry Brown," the Democratic nominee.
Meanwhile, Oakland has approved a plan to bring large-scale pot farms to the city. the AP reports, "The Oakland City Council has approved a plan to license four production plants where marijuana would be grown, packaged and processed.
"The council voted 5-2 with one abstention late Tuesday in favor of the plan. The measure will go before the council one more time for a final vote, but the outcome is not expected to change.