I hope Republicans are resting up after what had to be a strenuous weekend of being self-proclaimed “Trailblazers.”

http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2013/04/need-to-know-how-to-run-a-campaign-candidates-get-to-work.html#storylink=misearch They should be given credit for their self-confidence, since the only “blaze” associated with Republicans these days is the blaze of glory they went down in the last election as Democrats established a two-thirds majority in both houses for the first time in over a century. 
 
Since Republicans say are going back to the “nuts and bolts,” here are a few basics they might want to review:
 
• Campaign team and budget: If the only money you can raise is from shady out-of-state sources, (see: Charles Munger funneling money through Arizona, Koch Brothers, etc.) maybe you should make some more “geographically desirable” rich Republican friends here in the state of California.  These long-distance relationships very rarely work out well for any of you.

 
• Latino Outreach: Minuteman and Republican Gubernatorial candidate Tim Donnelly might not be your best surrogate.  Donnelly/Republican (Source: LA Weekly http://www.laweekly.com/2010-10-28/news/tim-donnelly-s-revolution/full/) “messaging” on Latinos:Donnelly (R – AD-33): "The facts are incontrovertible that allowing an illegal invasion of the United States will destroy the American Southwest, and very probably wipe out the freedoms we American Christians enjoy, as Muslim Extremists blend in with the so-called 'innocent' illegal aliens, and eventually proselytize them. It is not a stretch to picture a revolt in Los Angeles, whose population is comprised of over 50 percent illegal aliens. At the rate of influx and births, it will be 80 percent illegal alien within a decade. ... None of this bodes well for the citizens who live in Southern California now, nor will it improve the life of the poor alien, but it is well on its way to wiping out everything that was once good in Southern California."PS – In 2012, only 30% of Latino voters in CA voted for a Republican at the top of the ticket (Source: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2012-exit-poll/CA/President)

• Outreach to Women:Start with a basic biology class.  Rape can cause pregnancy. Period. The end. It’s ignorant and vile when your leaders, like Celeste Grieg, suggest otherwise:  http://www.dailydemocrat.com/news/ci_22699914/california-gop-leader-steps-into-rape-pregnancy-controversy

• Long Term Communications:Cutting billions from California’s public schools has been a predominant Republican message since Schwarzenegger proposed it in 2005.  Wondering how that’s been working out for you with parents across the state? Swimmingly, I presume, since you’ve been so consistent about it.
Trailblazing is tough work for GOPers, so I’m guessing you’ll be too tired to follow the California Democratic Party Convention this weekend. No worries, but if you did, you might see leaders who reflect the people and values of California--and don't blaze trails off the electoral cliff.  

Mark your calendars - March 26th will be the day that workers' voices were heard all around the globe. "Solidarity Saturday" starts with a massive march through Los Angeles beginning at the Convention Center and ending at Pershing Square, featuring international labor leaders from across the United States and everyday working people who are fighting for a stronger middle class and good jobs. The same day, protests will be held in Wisconsin and Iowa, and even in the London, where workers are fighting drastic layoffs and students are rising up against crippling budget cuts to schools.

Working families are coming together and standing strong to hold onto our most basic worker rights, and to protect the middle class way of life that has been created through collective bargaining. 

In Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, Florida, Michigan and now in California, working families and their right to collective bargaining are under attack by the same big corporate CEOs that have fought to destroy these rights for private sector workers.  This threatens the things we care about most: good jobs, safer neighborhoods, quality public schools, affordable health care and cleaner air, for starters.

Here in California, we remain a strong blue state, because Californians know how important it is to have a strong middle class for working families.  The fact is - America's workers are the wrong target.  It's Wall Street that needs to be held accountable for destroying the retirement security of hundreds of millions of workers.

Yesterday, the Governor's May Revision proposal to cut billions more from California's public schools was overwhelmingly rejected by the California State Legislature, falling 29 votes short of what was needed for passage.

 

With $17 billion in cuts already made to public schools over the past two years, nearly 30,000 educators in California's public schools have been laid off - driving up class sizes, denying students individualized instruction and leaving sparse adult supervision on school campuses.

The Governor's failed budget proposal would have further reduced revenue limit funding -general purpose support for schools - by $1.5 billion.  This represents a cut of about $250 per student.  The Governor also proposes cuts of $1.4 billion to child development programs, $28 million to county offices of education, $550 million from the K-3 Class Size Reduction program, and $206 million from virtually all K-12 programs to impose a negative cost-of-living adjustment.

California's public schools have already been subjected to 60 percent of the cuts, even though education funding makes up only 40 percent of the state budget. And contrary to the Governor's ongoing claim of protecting schools from budget cuts, California's per-pupil spending has dropped more than 12 percent in the last four  years, keeping California nearly last in the nation in spending per student.

With the new school year already underway and students facing unprecedented larger class sizes due to $17 billion in cuts to public schools over the past two years, California's lawmakers need to take urgent action to ensure that federal funding passed by Congress is distributed to schools immediately and not used to fix the state's budget crisis.

Under a law passed by Congress and signed by President Obama last week, the "Keep Our Educators Working Act," California is due to receive $1.2 billion in federal funding for education to help put teachers and teaching assistants back in classrooms, and to help put others working in California schools back on the job, including custodians and school bus drivers.

Our state lawmakers must take immediate legislative action to ensure that these badly needed federal funds go straight to California's 6.3 million students, many of whom are already packed into overcrowded classrooms and have seen vital programs slashed, school libraries closed and adult supervision on school campuses dwindle, as a result of layoffs of 30,000 educators in public schools - 16,000 last year and 14,000 this year. 

As many of California's students head back to our public schools across the state this week, the classrooms they enter are likely to look much different after enduring $17 billion in cuts statewide-starting with fewer teachers and instructional aides, and bigger, sometimes overwhelming, class sizes.

Many students will see playgrounds with fewer adults to supervise them, fewer bus drivers to take them to and from school, and have very limited access to their school libraries.   Their classes will not have as many basic supplies like pencils, paper and books, and computer labs will not be updated with current software.   And the school year will be shorter than it has been in decades.

Today the  Education Coalition hosted a budget briefing to announce their support of the Assembly budget proposal and to oppose the Governor’s May Budget Revision, which cuts more than $4.1 billion from California’s schools and students according to the Legislative Analysts’ Office.  

The Governor’s proposed budget would further reduce revenue limit funding, the general purpose support for schools, by $1.5 billion.  This represents a cut of about $250 per student.  The Governor also proposes cuts of $1.4 billion to child development programs, $28 million to county offices of education, $550 million from the K-3 Class Size Reduction program, and $206 million from virtually all K-12 programs to impose a negative cost-of-living adjustment. 

Harris continues to hide behind consultants and spokespeople, even while lobbing attacks - refuses to make herself available to answer questions

Today the Kamala Harris campaign sunk to a new low, with her consultants coordinating a publicity stunt attacking Attorney General candidate Chris Kelly just days after a judge issued a ruling detailing Kamala Harris' central role in the San Francisco crime lab scandal and saying that she had violated defendants' civil rights.

CAMPAIGN MEMO FROM THE CHRIS KELLY FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL CAMPAIGN 

RE:CHRIS KELLY CAMPAIGN RELEASES VIDEO ABOUT KAMALA  HARRIS' OPPOSITION TO THE DEATH PENALTY; REFUSAL TO ENFORCE THE LAW

Kamala Harris says in her new ad that "she did it in San Francisco," touting her record as the city's District Attorney. Below please find a video response from the Kelly campaign about what Kamala Harris really "did" for San Francisco.

KH Video <http://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs028/1102807289143/img/8.jpg

 

Nearly two months after the news broke about serious problems with San Francisco's crime lab that would result in her releasing hundreds of hardened criminals back onto the city's streets, District Attorney Kamala Harris finally held a press conference. 

 

Did she answer the tough questions?  Did she express regret over the way her office has bungled the prosecution of cases related to the crime lab?  Did she say what she knew and when she knew it about the crime lab's myriad and well-documented problems?  Did she explain why she was out of town and didn't return for critical meetings as the debacle unfolded?

Nope. Not a chance. She laughed.

 

That's right, folks - she laughed, just as she was claiming that she was "holding drug dealers accountable."

 

Don't believe it?  Watch for yourself: