Klink Comments on CA US Senate Race

Today, the segment I taped yesterday on Fox News ran during its national political segment -- at 3 p.m. PST. Fox News correspondent Anita Vogel and I spoke for quite some time about the California Senate Race...which is potentially competitive for the first time in quite some time.

Check out the video here.




Click here for a link to an Internet story about the same newscast.

Obama's Love-Hate Relationship with Carbon

President Obama is on his anti-carbon-horse again. In a Las Vegas town hall today, he made the case that many Americans depend on "dirty" forms of energy and that there needs to be a transition period to make costs not hit folks quickly -- i.e., get ready to pay more...just not now...we'll spread out those costs over time. Thanks, Chuck Todd for your post on this (the italics are mine).

In a separate Chuck Todd post, he mentions that President Obama tried to make the case that setting carbon standards will jump-start innovation, just like mileage standards did with automobiles.

I'm continually struck by the Obama Administration's fanaticism about carbon (he must be channeling his inner-Al Gore)...specifically with the need to regulate carbon and have the federal government consume the massive revenue associatd with doing so.

Look no further than the "Cap and Tax" legislation that's now bogged down in the Senate. While it passed a Democrat-controlled house, there were massive Democrat defections. In the Senate, it's stalled, in a large part because of unanimous Republican opposition and because Democrats in key states (read, those up for re-election) fear the huge costs associated with implementing such a tax scheme...for LITTLE if any environmental benefit.

Recently, Obama spoke about the need for nuclear power -- specifically he mentioned that he favors the construction of two new plants. These words hopefully show some flexibility in his approach to energy, in that the President isn't "locked in" to just "green" energy sources (wind, water and solar cannot possibly cover America's needs)...but two nuclear plants alone doesn't make a national energy policy. The reality is that these plants will take a decade to permit...so any "relief" will take a LONG time.

If the President were serious about "energy independence," he would look under every rock domestically to make that occur with a diversity of energy sources. America is blessed with massive oil and natural gas reserves in all parts of the US. And, we can't forget about clean coal. Talk about job creation and a jobs program...there it is. These sources should be tapped ASAP so that our dependent on foreign sources of energy diminishes over time.

As for the ever-popular "green" energy that Obama says will yield jobs...the reality is that if we lose hundreds or thousands of jobs from what he terms "dirty" energy and replace them with tens or hundreds of jobs for "clean" energy...America loses in the short-term and in the long-term. What Obama has either ignored or fails to understand is that American can do BOTH -- we should enhance our domestic energy resources and look to develop green energy.

Barack Obama has yet to find a balance on the energy front. He is driven by a green energy quest -- one that runs counter to his top priority, job creation and retention. Until he can find a way to achieve this balance, expect that Republicans, some Democrats and majorities of the American public will oppose his plans.

I've said for quite some time that overwhelming majorities of Americans fancy themselves environmentalists...until specific costs are attributed to so-called "environmental reforms." That's what is happening now.

Obama, Las Vegas and Harry Reid

Tomorrow, Barack Obama will visit Nevada to stump for embattled Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Obama's attendance is a mixed blessing for Reid, who trails all his Republican challengers for his Senate re-election bid.

Obama's attendance is a positive because among the Democrat faithful, he can still "rally the troops" and he can raise money with the best of them. So, Reid's already swelling campaign coffers will grow by that much more -- money he'll desperately need to run a negative campaign in the general election...largely because the Majority Leader's numbers are so bad.

But, Obama's attendance may prove to be a curse. Obama stumped for Creigh Deeds in Virginia, for John Corzine in New Jersey and for Martha Coakley in Massachusetts. And, well, let's just say that we all know how these races played out. Don't think that Reid isn't worried about being the second Democrat Majority Leader (recall Tom Daschle) to go down in flames.

I'm sure that Reid called in a favor and Obama was obliged to respond to Reid's request...after all, the Senate Majority Leader has tried to carry Obama's water in the Senate. Also, President Obama is looking to make nice with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goldman. (By the way, wasn't Oscar Goldman Steve Austin's boss in the Six-Million Dollar Man...sorry...couldn't resist!).

On the "thumb in your eye front," Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman rejected the White House's invitation to attend the Friday event. As you may know, Obama has now twice criticized Las Vegas...telling Americans "not to blow money on a weekend in Las Vegas" and one other time...again, focusing on Las Vegas and spending money you don't have.

Note to President Obama...you should heed your own words to Las Vegas visitors about controlling your spending -- this coming from an Administration that is the biggest spending in American history.

...Thoughts on the California Senate Race

Finally! It's been a long time since California has had a competitive U.S. Senate race, largely because Republicans have nominated nice but unelectable candidates. According to the Los Angeles Times, liberal CA Democrat Barbara Boxer is vulnerable, largely because her poll numbers are stuck in the mid-40 range...a sign of trouble for any incumbent.

For her three Republican challengers, the news appears to also be good. Carly Fiorina and Tom Campbell each trail Boxer by 4 percentage points and Chuck Devore trails Boxer by five.

Just today, long-time political analyst Stu Rothenberg writes in CQ Politics:

In California, voters aren’t particularly enthusiastic about Sen. Barbara Boxer (D). She’s a polarizing political figure and running at or below 50 percent in ballot tests against either Assemblyman Chuck DeVore or businesswoman Carly Fiorina, two of the leading Republicans in the race.

Still, DeVore doesn’t have the breadth of appeal or money to defeat Boxer, while Fiorina has plenty of baggage.

Boxer’s prospects would take a hit, of course, if California Republicans were to nominate former Rep. Tom Campbell, a moderate who would have considerable statewide appeal — if he could accumulate the resources for an expensive statewide race. But Campbell’s past fundraising isn’t encouraging.

While this news may make Tom Campbell's campaign for the U.S. Senate crow...the challenge that he ultimately faces are two-fold -- and they're BIG ones. First, he simply cannot raise the money to compete against a well-funded Democrat incumbent like Barbara Boxer. Boxer and liberal special interest groups would spend whatever it takes to keep the entrenched incumbent in office...and Campbell would be left on the sidelines with lukewarm GOP support. Nominating him would be foolish for the California Republican Party...but they've done foolish things in the past. Second, Tom Campbell has a well-documented history of supporting tax increases, which should be TABOO in Washington this year. If he is the Republican nominee, he can't now say, "well, that was then, this was now."

On the Chuck Devore front, he is a really nice guy...but too ideologically conservative to get elected in the Golden State. He would notch 40 to 45 percent of the vote in the general election and Barbara Boxer would skate. Historically, California Republicans have placed ideology over electability. Let's hope that's not the case.

While Stu Rothenberg mentions that Carly Fiorina has "plenty of baggage," she has the resources at her disposal to define herself and her opponent -- and her pro-business, tough on defense positions make her infinitely electable. And, the fact that she would be a Republican woman running against Barbara Boxer would make for an interesting race -- two accomplished, tough-as-nails women slugging it out. I disagree with Rothenberg on his call about Campbell.

So, while the California Senate race appears to be in play...it really rests with whom Republican voters nominate to run against Boxer.

Only time will tell.

Of Water and Jobs

So Republican GOP Senate candidate Tom Campbell announced his support for Senator Dianne Feinstein's water amendment in the Jobs Bill, indicating that unemployment is at historically high levels in California's Central Valley.

We don't need another Stimulus Plan -- re-named a "jobs bill" -- to identify the true cause of the Central Valley's unemployment -- the prohibition of pumping because of the Delta smelt! The fact that water has been cut off from California's agricultural community is a significant reason why the Central Valley has high-unemployment.

Start those pumps. Allow farmers to water their crops and farm...we don't need big-government intervention and another "stimulus." We need common sense!

Global Warming -- All Things to All People

Sometimes it sucks living on the West Coast. I'd intended to write a post this morning about how I was positive that the radical enviro community would find a way to "link" the massive snow storms and cold front on the East Coast to global warming.

I arrived at my office this morning -- around the 7:30 a.m. hour -- to find a very detailed post from the Heritage Foundation about global warming called, "Global Warming - Is There Anything It Can't Do?"

I do feel it's important to re-post two interesting -- and contradictory -- articles contained in Heritage's e-mail. The first is an article by Time magazine that says the snow storms pounding Washington, D.C. may be caused by global warming. The second is an article by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., in the Los Angeles Times that says the opposite. In fact, the most telling quote by Kennedy is:

"In Virginia, the weather also has changed dramatically. Recently arrived residents in the northern suburbs, accustomed to today's anemic winters, might find it astonishing to learn that there were once ski runs on Ballantrae Hill in McLean, with a rope tow and local ski club. Snow is so scarce today that most Virginia children probably don't own a sled. But neighbors came to our home at Hickory Hill nearly every winter weekend to ride saucers and Flexible Flyers."

So, rather than re-hash the entire post, I would like to state how impressed I am by the global warming community and its dexterity in making their case that global warming is real...and therefore the United States should pass a massive "cap-and-tax" energy policy that would have marginal, if any, environmental benefits, would swell government coffers (perhaps that's their real goal)...and would require massive taxes on EVERYONE to do so.

Now, the New York Times, in an article called "Climate-Change Debate Is Heating Up in Deep Freeze" also attempts to make the case that "a heating planet will produce more frequent and more intense weather events." Convenient...essentially, no matter what global warming skeptics try to argue...it's wrong. Unseasonably hot weather -- global warming. Record cold weather -- global warming. Middle-of-the-road weather -- global warming!

I'm more convinced now than I ever have been that global warming -- more accurately the "scientific" efforts to control it -- is nothing more than a government-enforced plot to control people. Of course, the "elite" or the "intelligentsia" wouldn't be bound by any carbon-inspired restrictions. They'll simply be able to buy "offsets" for their "abuse" but poor, average Joe and Jane Six-Pack won't be able to do so. Driving will cost more. Flying will become cost-prohibitive. Factories will close down...but, we'll be creating all those "green jobs" so everything will be OK.. PLEEEEEEZ!

Al Gore, we're told, has a massive house that consumes tremendous amounts of energy. He travels the world on private jets...planes that belch massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere...making the problem Al has waxed poetically about for years that much worse. But, all is well, we're told. Al purchases off sets...so, it's all good! Al is planting trees in some far-off rain forest. Whew. I fell better now.

I've told my business partners, my friends, my family -- anyone who would listen for years that this whole global warming thing is over-blown. Everyone, in some way, shape or form, is an environmentalist, especially in California. I love the beach and our parks as much as the next person. However, once governments or elected officials attribute specific costs to any "environmental" measures (cap and tax being the most recent)...that's when support for them declines precipitously.

And, so it (the support) has declined. Obama's cap and tax proposal is all but dead. The rhetorical flourishes by Al Gore and the radical enviro crowd have become less vocal...perhaps it's because they over-played their hand and realize that the American people aren't buying what they're selling.

Of Palm Writings and Teleprompters

So yesterday, White House press flak Gibbs went after Sarah Palin for writing notes on her hand...which she did during her remarks at the Tea Party Convention this past weekend. The notes were apparently "reminders" for Palin to hit hot-button topics of energy and taxes during her keynote remarks at the Convention.

Gibbs, as portrayed in the Washington Post article (with video) makes fun of Palin's crib notes, adding the words "hope" and "change" to a shopping list -- eggs, milk, bread, which Gibbs crosses out.

A couple things strike me as ironic about Gibbs' attempt to poke fun at Palin.

First, even with the "palm writings" Palin utilizes, at least she's using her own words, talking to real people. Gibbs' boss, Barack Obama, uses a TelePrompter for EVERYTHING...even in allegedly "impromptu" remarks...in part because he is known for stepping in it when he speaks off the cuff.

Second, if such antics were even attempted by a Republican press secretary criticizing a Democrat female, such antics would be lambasted by the liberal/left as anti-woman. But, it appears the mainstream media gives Gibbs a pass.

Third, why is it that the Democrats and the Obama Administration so fear Sarah Palin? Clearly, her message has hit a "sore spot" in Obama-land.

My end thought is this..."how's that hopey-changey-thing working for ya?"

Talk about a White House searching desperately for a message...feebly attempting to grasp onto anything that gets traction.

It's All About Small Business...and Stability

Folks in Washington and Sacramento just don't get it. They try and try to appear friendly to small businesses, but their feeble attempts to create a more "business friendly" environment all fall short.

The classic example of this "failure" is Barack Obama's attempt to "stimulate" small businesses -- a second time. The first stimulus failed miserably to entice small business owners to hire new employees...but it did grow government. So, now, Obama and his Democrat minions want to enact a series of targeted tax credits and small business loans. I guess for someone from the non-profit/community organizing world, if all you know is government involvement, hand-out politics, then this approach makes sense. Unfortunately, the Small Business Administration is woefully poor at picking winners and losers (probably because politics and social engineering get in the way), and tax credits don't encourage long-term hiring.

What Washington -- and Sacramento -- need to understand is that small businesses make long-term decisions on hiring based on stability and predictability. By allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire -- you know, the ones that supposedly bailed out the rich -- small business owners (many of whom file their tax returns as individuals...and thus exceed the $250,000 limit) will be hit with a tax increase. This environment is not conducive to more hiring. Perhaps this is why the US is stuck at a 9.7% unemployment rate -- a rate that will grow...and California faces a 12.4% umemployment rate.

Obama, Washington Dems and Sacramento politicians need to get out of the way. LOWER taxes, decrease regulation...and magically, small businesses will begin hiring again. We've seen the alternative. Heavy government involvement will only grow government, which in turn leads to the need for higher taxes on individuals and the private sector, which in turn decreases the job-creation environment. We're caught in a dangerous downward spiral. But, for Obama, that may be what he intends!!!