Personally, I wouldn't miss some of the pork, I mean "vital" programs, that could be pitched over the looming "fiscal cliff" into well-deserved oblivion. One of my favorite candidates is the zombie (e.g., ever-recurring despite guarantees that it will end when the technology reaches maturity) subsidy for wind power. The [...]
Given all the raucous crowing about "mandate" and blatantly smug grins from the left side of the aisle, as Obama-the-Magnificent puts the smack down on the Republicans, I wonder if folks have given any serious thought to the inevitable consequences of a one-party government. Wait, did I use the word [...]
Of the two default states of Congress, hysterical panic or clueless optimism, I'm not sure which produces more miss-targeted, poorly written or outright destructive legislation. One thing is sure, stupidity is bi-partisan.
I've had a number of discussions recently about Presidential abuse of recess appointments. It seems that, no matter who occupies the Oval office, the members of the opposing team are outraged (OUTRAGED, DO YOU HEAR) at the perceived threat to our democracy, violation of the fundamental principal of the separation [...]
I guess rumors of my demise were exaggerated. I've been invited to appear in the Petaluma Chamber of Commerce monthly newsletter. Look for me in January's edition. Until then, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. For those who don't celebrate the birth of Our Lord, or find [...]
Thursday’s drawing will be my last regular cartoon for the Argus-Courier. Eight years, and some 400 cartoons later, I’m ready to step aside, hopefully to make room for some new talent. Since 2004, when John Burns asked me to contribute to the paper, I’ve been delighted to make a small [...]
Woo-hoo. We're heading into election season. Be afraid...very afraid! California is experimenting with an open primary and there are clients for every taste...as long as you're not looking for an experienced, pragmatic, fiscally-savvy, business-friendly realist. Oh, wait, that's right, this is California. What was I thinking?
I was a school board member for more than ten years, so I appreciate the struggles faced by California's schools, large and small. Since between 80% and 90% of any school's budget goes to teacher salaries and benefits, discussions about school-funding always influenced by opinions (pro and con) about teacher's [...]
Petaluma rejoices in the antics of its own, locally-grown, Three (Progressive) Stooges. This trio of lovable loons continually entertains a gullible constituency with fiscally insolvent fantasies of no-growth, anti-big-box, impossible-to-sustain, fair trade, living wage Utopianism.
When the issue of the Keller street garage's plague of flying rats (aka, the dove of peace, squab, pigeons) resurfaced, hizzoner was contacted to comment. Giving da mayah any kind of public forum invites the world to view the most prominent symptom of our fair burg's dysfunction. Suffice it to say that his [...]