Politics, Government & Business in California's Inland Empire
Friday, February 27, 2015 – 05:00 p.m.
Tonight The Lou Desmond & Company Show comes to you live from Bullseye Sports in Riverside. Vince, the owner of Bullseye Sports, joins Lou to discuss how he came to America from Cuba, and the nature of his firearms business.
Politics
By Carla Marinucci
February 26, 2015
Updated: February 26, 2015 – 4:22pm
Not so long ago, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was the brash, rising star of the Republican Party who felt confident enough to pick a fight with the governor of another big state, Jerry Brown, dismissing him as “an old retread” who would deliver a “failed record” for California.
By Christopher Cadelago
ccadelago@sacbee.com
02/26/2015 12:38 PM
Three months after being elected to their second terms, a pair of California Democratic congressmen are already hearing footsteps.
Thursday, February 26, 2015 – 04:30 p.m.
Tonight on The Lou Desmond & Company Show, reporter Katy Grimes from Flash Report joins Lou to discuss the drought in California. Katy explains a recent article she’s written about the facts behind California’s drought.
Published: Feb. 25, 2015 – Updated: 9:50 p.m.
Campaign spending by developer Highland Fairview in the November Moreno Valley City Council election topped $500,000, final spending reports show.
To read story by Imran Ghori in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Michael Finnegan and Patrick McGreevy
February 25, 2015
With Antonio Villaraigosa no longer a threat to her campaign for U.S. Senate, some Democratic leaders see state Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris as Barbara Boxer’s inevitable successor.
By Rosalind S. Helderman and Tom Hamburger
February 25, 2015 at 8:54 PM
The Clinton Foundation accepted millions of dollars from seven foreign governments during Hillary Rodham Clinton’s tenure as secretary of state, including one donation that violated its ethics agreement with the Obama administration, foundation officials disclosed Wednesday.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015 – 08:45 a.m.
We won’t belabor the announcement by wasting time placing any media stories up on the blog.
By Paul Rogers
progers@mercurynews.com
Posted: 02/25/2015 – 06:02:48 AM PST
SACRAMENTO — Setting up a grand environmental showdown, a referendum initiated by the plastic-bag industry to overturn California’s first-in-the-nation law that bans supermarkets and other businesses from handing out single-use plastic bags has qualified for next year’s ballot.
By PAUL MITCHELL
Posted 02.24.2015
A case before the U.S. Supreme Court, with arguments set to be heard on March 2, could reduce the role of the State Redistricting Commission, invalidate the 2011 Congressional lines, and hand to the legislature the immediate responsibility of redrawing 53 valuable seats.
By Christopher Cadelago
ccadelago@sacbee.com
02/23/2015 5:19 PM
Add his name to the list of Republicans possibly contemplating what would be an uphill run for the U.S. Senate.
Opinion
By Debra J. Saunders
Monday, February 23, 2015 – Published 4:02 pm
Tuesday Hillary Rodham Clinton addresses the Watermark Silicon Valley Conference for Women. The former first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state comes to the Bay Area at a time when I hear more people — on the left and the right — cringing at the prospect of Clinton heading the Democratic ticket next year — and worse, squaring off against Jeb Bush in a Bush-Clinton rerun. To many, a Clinton nod has the grim inevitability of death and taxes.
Feb. 22, 2015 – 4:25 p.m.
By CITY NEWS SERVICE
SANTA ANA — Former state Sen. Lou Correa raised multiple questions about mistakes and possible fraud in his narrow loss to Andrew Do for Orange County supervisor, but he said it would be too costly to try to overturn the results in a court.
Sunday, February 22, 2015 – 01:00 p.m.
There’s no question mark required for this one.
The Democrat Party has another 2016 campaign issue to deal with.
Published: Feb. 20, 2015
Updated: Feb. 21, 2015 – 7:00 p.m.
Riverside officials appear likely to place on the June 2 ballot a measure that would overturn the city’s ban on medical marijuana dispensaries.
To read story by Alicia Robinson in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Josh Richman
jrichman@bayareanewsgroup.com
Posted: 02/22/2015 10:16:32 AM PST
Updated: 02/22/2015 10:16:40 AM PST
Getting an early start is important for birds seeking worms and children hoping to get in a top college. But when it comes to prominent politicians angling for higher office, starting years in advance may simply allow more time for troubles to mount, political experts say.
So what the heck are Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom thinking?
By Cathleen Decker
February 21, 2015
California has stood as a bright-blue bulwark against conservative political surges for years now, blocking at its border a series of national Republican sweeps and giving President Obama historically huge victories.
By David Lightman
McClatchy Washington Bureau
02/21/2015 12:22 PM
WASHINGTON — Democrats have become a confused political party with a muddled message and an inability to turn out enough of its loyal voters, a party task force charged with how to revive the embattled party said Saturday.
Saturday, February 2015 – 09:30 a.m.
It just keeps getting worse for Democrats nationally. The Obamacare steamroller was operating at full speed this week.
Where do I start?
By Beau Yarbrough, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Posted: 02/20/15, 8:38 PM PST | Updated: 1 min ago
Three nationally known Republicans will descend on Riverside Saturday, speaking to the conservative faithful and padding their campaign war chests in advance of a 2016 presidential run.
Friday, February 20, 2015 – 03:00 p.m.
Today on The Lou Desmond & Company Show, Ed Hoffman, president of Wholesale Capital Corporation and host of the Main Event, and Ann-Marie Murrell, CEO and National Editor of PolitiChicks, join Lou to discuss the Unite IE Conference.
By Patrick McGreevy
February 19, 2015
The state ethics watchdog panel adopted regulations Thursday banning political fundraisers in the homes of lobbyists, rejecting exceptions to the rule proposed by a group representing legislative advocates.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
02/19/2015 10:12 PM
It’s obvious that California’s highest-profile political contest next year will be for the U.S. Senate seat that Barbara Boxer will give up after 24 years.
By David Siders
dsiders@sacbee.com
02/19/2015 12:05 AM
More than a year before the presidential primary reaches California, this much can be said about the voting public: Democrats like Hillary Rodham Clinton, Republicans like Scott Walker and Jeb Bush, and a lot of people still haven’t made up their minds.
By Staff reports
Posted: 02/18/15, 7:58 AM PST
Confirming months of speculation, U.S. Rep. Janice Hahn announced her candidacy today for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
By John Myers
Feb 18, 2015
Not bad, but not a blockbuster: Consider that the real takeaway for Kamala Harris in the first statewide public poll in the 2016 race for the U.S. Senate.
By Edvard Pettersson
February 17, 2015 – 10:56 AM PST
(Bloomberg) — A Koch brothers advocacy group can keep its donor list secret for now, with a federal judge ruling that revealing the identities would chill free speech.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015 – 03:00 p.m.
Looks like two losses isn’t enough for the county’s preeminent wannabe elected official.
By Chuck McFadden
Posted 02.16.2015
ANALYSIS: There are rumblings beneath the surface about the danger of a race-tinged political war breaking out within the California Democratic Party.
By Mark Gutglueck
Posted on February 14, 2015
(February 13) – A series of events has moved allegations of drug use by San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chairman James Ramos front and center, together with suggestions that county officials have ignored or covered up indications of that activity because of his extensive personal wealth which has been used to support other elected county officials’ own political efforts.
By NANCY BENAC Associated Press
02/16/2015 12:33 AM
WASHINGTON — If you’re an aspiring presidential candidate, says professional crisis manager Eric Dezenhall, right now is “a great time to take a pratfall because it’s so far away from anything major.”
Maureen Dowd
Sunday Review | Op-Ed Columnist
February 14, 2015
WASHINGTON — I’LL pay for this column.
The Rottweilers will be unleashed.
Once the Clintons had a War Room. Now they have a Slime Room.
By Anh Do
February 13, 2015
A recount for Orange County’s first district supervisor race ended Friday night, with no change after a review of nearly 6,250 vote-by-mail ballots, officials said.
By Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine
February 13, 2015
Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris may be leading the field statewide in 2016 race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer – we won’t actually know until we see some public polling data – but it appears that among Latino voters who say they’re likely to vote, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio “Tony V” Villaraigosa is the clear favorite.
By Jean Merl
February 13, 2015
Getting an early start on shoring up at-risk members, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on Thursday released a list of 14 it deems most vulnerable in next year’s elections.
By Alex Isenstadt
2/12/15 – 6:07 PM EST
The war on Jeb Bush is on.
Rand Paul is attacking him as a hypocrite on marijuana who’s indistinguishable from Hillary Clinton. Ted Cruz is questioning whether Bush’s stands on education and immigration will fly with primary voters. Conservative outside groups are going after him, with one airing a TV ad declaring, “We do not want dynasties in our White House.”
Published: Feb. 11, 2015 – Updated: 9:40 a.m.
Republican Paul Chabot believes a lack of money and GOP support hampered his campaign for an Inland congressional seat. He might have a point, at least on the money part.
To read post by Jeff Horseman in The PE Political Empire Blog, click here.
By Seema Mehta
February 11, 2015
California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that he has opened a fundraising account to run for governor in 2018.
02/09/2015 – 11:44 PM
WASHINGTON — A rare open contest for a U.S. Senate seat in California next year presents a long-awaited opportunity for some of the state’s more politically ambitious House members.
Feb. 9, 2015
Updated 8:38 p.m.
By MEGHANN M. CUNIFF / STAFF WRITER
The first day of the recount in the 1st District Board of Supervisors election will be the last after Monday ended with no changes to Republican Andrew Do’s 43-vote victory.
Monday, February 9, 2015 – 09:00 a.m.
First it was the “If you like your plan you can keep it” debacle.
Now everyone is just starting to get the second dose of Obamacare.
By Mark Z. Barabak
February 8, 2015
Reinvention is part of California’s credo, the inalienable right of every man, woman and child to make of themselves and their lives what they will — and do it over again, if they’re not happy the first time.
By Seema Mehta
February 9, 2015
Unless a surprise GOP candidate emerges, the U.S. Senate race in California will mark the third straight election with the party’s top-of-the-ticket state candidate given virtually no chance of victory, even by fellow Republicans.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
02/08/2015 12:01 AM
Something north of $400 million was spent in California last year on campaigns for statewide and legislative offices, and for or against state ballot measures.
By Jim Miller
jmiller@sacbee.com
02/06/2015 11:42 PM
Eureka, on California’s North Coast, is at least a seven-hour drive from Fresno, the northern tip of the Central Valley’s sprawling 14th Senate District. It’s even farther from Santa Ana, the Orange County city at the heart of Southern California’s 34th Senate District.
By Anne Gearan and Dan Balz
February 6, 2015 at 6:06 PM
Hillary Rodham Clinton, who won’t yet say whether she is running for president, is assembling a massive campaign team-in-waiting that outstrips anything on a Republican side that remains factionalized and focused on knocking off one another.
By Michael Finnegan
February 5, 2015
One of Antonio Villaraigosa’s closest friends and advisors said Thursday that all signs were pointing toward the former Los Angeles mayor declaring his candidacy for U.S. Senate within the next two weeks.
By Ann Coulter
February 4, 2015
It’s good to see conservatives have gotten back to letting The New York Times choose their nominees for them.
George Skelton
February 4, 2015
Latinos feel insulted by blacks. Angelenos are suspicious of San Franciscans. Democrats are squabbling. It’s inevitable.
By Seema Mehta
February 4, 2015
Janice Hahn must decide whether to stay in Congress, with her party out of power, or run for county supervisor
By Carla Marinucci
February 3, 2015 4:31 PM
Could California’s open 2016 U.S. Senate race turn into a a tussle between two powerhouse Democratic ethnic voting blocs — Latinos and African Americans?
By John Howard
Posted 02.03.2015
Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, pondering a run for the U.S. Senate in 2016, has slightly better name recognition than rival Democrat Kamala Harris and could benefit from an energized Latino electorate, according to a survey released by the Legislative Latino Caucus.
By Anh Do and Matt Hamilton
February 4, 2015
A former state senator who lost a special election for a seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors said he has asked for a recount because of concerns over “voting irregularities.”
By Matt Hamilton
February 2, 2015
Former state Sen. Lou Correa — who lost his bid for a seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors to Andrew Do by a 43-vote margin — has officially sought a recount of last Tuesday’s special election.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
02/02/2015 12:01 AM
When politicians tinker with the laws governing their own elections, one should view their proposals with a guilty-until-proven-innocent attitude.
John McCormick
Jan 31, 2015 – 3:00 PM PST
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is surging, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush is an also-ran and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is dominating in a new poll of Iowans likely to vote in the nation’s first presidential nominating contest.
By Christopher Goffard and Anh Do
January 31, 2015
Few Orange County politicians command the name recognition of Lou Correa, who has held seats in both houses of the California Legislature and on the county’s Board of Supervisors.
Saturday, January 31, 2015 – 01:00 p.m.
We’ve said it here many times.
If there’s one group who can routinely shoot itself in the head, it’s the GOP.
Updated – Jan. 31, 2015 9:16 a.m.
By MEGHANN M. CUNIFF / STAFF WRITER
Andrew Do was elected to the 1st District Board of Supervisors seat by 43 votes after the vote-counting wrapped up Friday, leaving Lou Correa, one of Orange County’s longest-standing politicians, jobless for the moment.
Friday, January 30, 2015 – 08:00 a.m.
News outlets are reporting that Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will not make a third run for President of the United States.
By Karen Tumulty
January 28, 2015 at 6:21 PM
They’re over her.
Sarah Palin’s odd, rambling speech last weekend before an audience of committed conservative activists in Des Moines has many influential voices on the right saying that the time has come to acknowledge that the romance has gone cold and the marriage is dead.
By Carla Marinucci
Wednesday, January 28, 2015 – Updated 9:40 am
The billionaire Koch brothers’ intention to spend nearly $900 million on conservative candidates and causes in the 2016 election cycle will unleash a tidal wave of cash that will swamp the political landscape even in solidly blue California, experts said Tuesday.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015 – 05:30 p.m.
Tonight on The Lou Desmond & Company Show, Tom Del Beccaro, former Chairman of the California Republican Party and Georgine Trujillo, Lou’s favorite Democrat, join the program.
Opinion
By Debra J. Saunders
Monday, January 26, 2015 – Updated 5:01 pm
Jeb Bush may be the front-runner in the GOP 2016 primary. He is the son and brother of former presidents, who can tap into their vaunted fund-raising machines. In some eyes, the former Florida governor always was the more disciplined, thoughtful and worthy son. Maybe. But Jeb Bush also has a problem: He is a boring speaker.
By Ron Fournier
January 27, 2015
This week may be remembered as the birth of the Koch Party. A usurper of the GOP and a rival to Democrats, the network of conservative advocacy groups backed by Charles and David Koch pledged Monday to spend $889 million on the 2016 election.
Published: Jan. 26, 2015 – Updated: 2:08 p.m.
He just started a new term. But Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit is already thinking about his next one.
To read post by Jeff Horseman in The PE Political Empire Blog, click here.
By Matea Gold
January 26, 2015 at 4:00 PM
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — A network of conservative advocacy groups backed by Charles and David Koch aims to spend a staggering $889 million in advance of the next White House election, part of an expansive strategy to build on its 2014 victories that may involve jumping into the Republican primaries.
Monday, January 26, 2015 – 09:00 a.m.
You gotta hand it to the GOP.
If there’s one concept the Republican Party has really developed a fine skill for, it’s committing political suicide.
By Matea Gold
January 24, 2015 at 9:33 PM
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif.— Conservative benefactor Charles Koch on Saturday called on other wealthy donors to expand their commitment to promoting free-market ideas and shrinking government, saying they would only succeed if the cause was “a central part of our lives.”
Michael Hiltzik
January 24, 2015
If you’re wondering why issues favored by a majority of Americans such as raising the minimum wage, gun control and net neutrality get scarcely any attention in the halls of Congress, the Citizens United case is the reason.
By Patrick McGreevy
January 23, 2015
Former Republican state Sen. Sharon Runner of Lancaster, who rebounded after receiving a double lung transplant three years ago, was the only candidate to file papers by Friday’s deadline to run in a special election to fill a Senate seat vacated when Steve Knight was elected to Congress.
By David Siders
dsiders@sacbee.com
01/23/2015 10:03 AM
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a reliable source of entertainment – and inspiration – for California Republicans, will keynote the state party’s spring convention, organizers said Friday.
Friday, January 23, 2015 – 05:00 p.m.
Tonight on The Lou Desmond & Company Show, Lou is joined by Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez (R-Lake Elsinore) to discuss AB 150, which would amend Prop 47 to make the theft of a firearm under $950 a felony.
By Michael Finnegan
January 22, 2015
With billionaire Tom Steyer opting out of California’s U.S. Senate race on Thursday, the most likely major rival for Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris appears to be former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
01/22/2015 8:18 PM
For two weeks, ever since Sen. Barbara Boxer declared she would not run for a fifth term in 2016, hedge fund billionaire/environmental activist Tom Steyer had conducted a Hamlet-like soliloquy.
By Christopher Cadelago
ccadelago@sacbee.com
01/22/2015 1:10 PM
Billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer said Thursday he will not be a candidate to succeed U.S. Senate Barbara Boxer and instead will continue his focus on helping Democrats and working to reverse the effects of global climate change.
By Andrea Drusch
January 21, 2015
With only weeks gone but years left in California’s Senate race, national Democrats appear eager to anoint state Attorney General Kamala Harris as the 2016 successor to Sen. Barbara Boxer’s seat. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee weighed in lauding Harris’ candidacy after she announced her decision last week, and high-profile sitting senators including Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Cory Booker also feted the new front-runner.
By Alex Isenstadt
1/21/15 – 8:03 PM EST
The procession of prominent Washington Democrats who lined up last week to sing the praises of California Attorney General Kamala Harris for Senate had the feel of an anointment. Sen. Cory Booker said he was “so excited” about her candidacy. Sen. Elizabeth Warren called Harris, a favorite of the Obama White House, “smart” and “tough.” Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand told supporters she needed Harris “by my side.”
Published: Jan. 20, 2015 – Updated: 10:21 p.m.
Three potential contenders for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 are expected to be in Riverside next month for a gathering of Inland conservative activists.
To read story by Jeff Horseman in The Press-Enterprise, click here.
By Matier & Ross
Monday, January 19, 2015
Having jumped into the U.S. Senate race “feet first,” state Attorney General Kamala Harris will be hitting the phones to score as much money and as many endorsements possible — all in the hope of keeping rival Democrats from jumping in as well.
The invitees are all potential 2016 presidential contenders.
By Kenneth P. Vogel
1/19/15 11:24 PM EST
Updated 1/20/15 8:44 AM EST
Four leading Republican presidential prospects are expected to appear this weekend in the California desert before an exclusive gathering of rich conservatives convened by the Koch brothers’ political operation, several sources tell POLITICO.
By Christopher Cadelago
ccadelago@sacbee.com
01/18/2015 4:50 PM
Tom Steyer, the billionaire climate change activist weighing a run for U.S. Senate, is telling potential supporters he would commit to serving only one term if he can’t reach goals dealing with the environment, economy and education within six years.
A CBS News poll finds enthusiasm for the once—and future?—nominee.
Ali Elkin
Jan 18, 2015 10:18 AM PST
GOP leaders appear skeptical about Mitt Romney’s prospects if he seeks the White House for a third time in 2016, but according to a new poll, everyday Republicans’ message to the former governor is: Come on in, the water’s fine.
They fare much better than Christie and Perry in a survey of would-be contenders.
By David Cohen
1/18/15 6:48 PM EST
Updated 1/18/15 11:02 PM EST
Hillary Clinton and Mitt Romney are the would-be candidates that Americans most want to run for president in 2016, while solid pluralities would prefer that Chris Christie and Rick Perry sit this election out, according to a new CBS News Poll released Sunday.
By Mark Gutgkueck
Posted on January 17, 2015
(January 14) — In local Democratic Party circles there is already peripheral discussion of the need to mount a challenge of Marc Steinorth in the 40th Assembly District in 2016.