IRS War on Easter
Ok, call me a procrasinator. I'll be doing my taxes this weekend, just before the deadline April 17th. The day before, April 16th, is Easter. The timing of Easter (which is an odd formula based on the lunar cycle in early Spring - check out an almanac to see how it works) generally corresponds to the final weeks before the personal tax deadline, so I always find myself feeling like I should be working on taxes to avoid a last minute rush.... or in a last minute rush. Either way, the IRS is getting in the way of the most important holiday of the year for Christians and marshmallow chick manufacturers.
With all the fuss last December that Bill O'Reilly and others generated about the so-called "War on Christmas," why aren't Christian Conservatives railing against the IRS for what it is doing to Easter. Heaven knows this crowd doesn't shy away against railing against the IRS for any other reason. So why not get a twofer and make this a new Crusade?
Maybe they can get the IRS to move tax day a month later so I get a breather on my taxes. Unless they move it a month earlier.
Larry Going to June Runoff
Looks like Larry Caballero will be facing Tom Harman in a 6 June 2006 runoff for the 35th State Senate Seat.
Help show your support for Larry... Blog here or contact Larry (see his webpage on smartvoter.org) and tell him you want to contribute your time or $.
Ok, I've got a hidden agenda. Blog here and I'll find out if anyone other than Andy found this blog.:-).
35th State Senate District Special Election Day
Today is Special Election day in the 35th State Senate District. That district overlaps most of the 67th Assembly District and one of the leading Republican candidates is the current 67th Assemblyperson, Tom Harman, so this race is of interest here.
This race is significant because most of the marketing to Democrats has been by Harman. But we do have an honest-to-goodness Democrat to support: Larry Caballero. Here's why I believe it's important that we support Larry.
The other Republican, Diane Harkey, represents the current Republican Party line in all it's nastiness - and has the endorsements to prove it. In fact, she's only in the race because the Party wanted someone other than Harman to run, so they went and found a city council member to run. Normally State Senate races attract bigger fish than that, but evidently the Republicans got everyone (except Harman) into line to support their anointed candidate. So voting for Harkey is voting to let the Republican Party think for you.
Tom Harman tries to get Democratic support as a moderate even while ramping up conservative rhetoric to hold on to Republican support. Fr' instance: after 6 years in the Assembly suddenly his top priority is Immigration?! Yeah right. It's just because the Republicans decided to stir that up as the wedge issue du jour. For Dems, Harman wants us to this he's a good guy environmentalist. If you only care about local issues, we can thank him for his role in one significant accomplishment - the Proposition (12?) that paved the way for the preservation of most of the Bolsa Chica Mesa. As much as we appreciate that, his record on statewide issues, including the environment, just isn't impressive. For the most part Harman has towed the Republican party line and still been treated as a 2nd class member of the Party because he isn't a true conservative believer. So he's not in the majority (Democratic) party and he is on the outs with his own. Doesn't sound like effective representation to me.
If you want real Democratic representation, Larry Caballero is the one. He has been active in the Democratic Party for years (I can vouch for seeing him in action back to at least 2000). He represents the best of our education community, doing an outstanding job in some very challenging public schools. He is a well spoken, intelligent individual and will make an excellent legislator. We need to show that we are not afraid to support someone who will really support us. Please vote for Larry Caballero for State Senate today.
Welcome!
This is an Unofficial, Unauthorized blog by one humble Democrat living in California's 67th Assembly District (an amorphous chunk of Northwest Orange County, California), and hope to attract others of the same leanings and geographical connection - but all are welcome to consider this a place to read and post on the local issues and Democratic thought. I ask that we try to keep the discussion here whether pro- or con- civil in tone as a little change from the increasingly strident trend in today's political climate.
Please note that there are official sites to cover this political district and for Democrats there in. As the blog title notes, this isnt' one of them. So please be notified that what I and others write here don't represent the official opinions of the Democratic Party, of any State of California entity, or any other entity.
