Apparently Barbara, CALL ME SENATOR, Boxer has written a second book called Blind Trust.

I hadn’t realized that there was a first book, or that she could even write.

For what it’s worth she is scheduled to appear in San Jose for a book signing.

Get well dressed up and be at the Barnes & Noble bookstore…
3600 Stevens Creek Blvd., San Jose
1 PM – Saturday the 15th

“CALL ME SENATOR”

“Sen. Barbara Boxer accused of racism…”

CONTRA COSTA TIMES

“Well Dressed”

San Jose Inside, a blog associated with Metro Newspapers and former mayor Tom McEnery, dropped a bomb on the local political blog scene with a post that claims to reveal the identity, or at least the team directing, combative political blogger “San Jose Revealed.”

Recently, the only somewhat Santa Clara-centric blog Mission City Lantern had been posting speculations about possible identities behind Revealed, but little conclusive evidence. In their latest post, Inside are effectively claiming that several of the people named by the Lantern are working together to direct Revealed’s blog, though admitting that a not-yet-identified third party may actually be writing Revealed’s words.

The people named by the Lantern and Inside are a fairly close group of advisers around former city councilmember Cindy Chavez, who ran for mayor in 2006. The Lantern specifically identified Revealed to be Philip Bump, formerly political director of the South Bay Labor Council, of which Chavez is currently CEO. In return, Revealed has posted a denial that the other blogs have him correctly identified.

I’ve always read Revealed as the kind of blogger who likes to poke a stick into a hornet’s nest, just to create some excitement. He has a certain group of local political figures who he regularly jabs at, and reading his stuff has been like watching over-the-top political rhetoric brought to the local stage. He strikes me as the “Rowdy” Roddy Piper of local politics. I always figured the people he took issue with were all grown-ups and could certainly stand up to Revealed’s somewhat clownish jeering.

On the other hand, I haven’t been reading Revealed long enough to see some of the more mean-spirited things Inside and the Lantern have pointed out, such as posting a map to the home of political aspirant (and gang prosecuting attorney) David Pandori’s. This, at least, clearly crosses the line from entertaining political bloviation to dangerous invasion of privacy.

I.O.U.S.A. Poster

On Monday evening, District 6 councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio is presenting a movie screening in the San Jose City Council chambers. The film, I.O.U.S.A., is a documentary meant to explain the US national debt, and what it means to future generations. The film has received favorable reviews from, for example, Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times.

I.O.U.S.A. was produced by a nonpartisan organization called the Concord Coalition, which advocates fiscal discipline in government. It was founded by a democratic and a republican senator in 1992, and its board of directors includes former Secretary of Treasury Robert Rubin, and former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Paul Volcker.

When: Monday, May 4, 7:00 – 9:00 pm.

Where: City council chambers, 200 E. Santa Clara St.

Cost: Free, R.S.V.P. requested to pierluigi.oliverio@sanjoseca.gov

Yes, April 15th is income Tax Day but this year it is also a day of protest. Citizens across the nation, who are fed up with giving their hard-earned money to the government, are coming together for “tea parties”.
There is no need to attend if you are happy with the tax policies, you enjoy spreading the wealth around with wasteful spending, and feel all patriotic parting with so much of your cash.

San Jose (Santa Clara County) Tax Day Tea Party

April 15, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Plaza de Cesar Chavez – S. Market St & Park Ave

It’s Time to be Patriotic? Time to Jump In?

No, it’s not tea and cucumber sandwiches.

No fooling, this is all too real.

Beginning April 1, the state sales and use tax rate increases by 1%.

The 1% tax rate increase will expire on either July 1, 2011, or July 1, 2012, depending upon whether the voters approve the proposed Proposition 1A Budget Stabilization constitutional amendment in a statewide election to be held on May 19, 2009. Actually there are seven ballot propositions that will determine what the state can and cannot do with tax dollars.

The state is also raising the Vehicle License Fee from .65 percent to nearly 1.15 percent of a vehicle’s value, beginning May 19 until June 30, 2013.

Effective April 1, 2009…

Santa Clara County 9.25%

City of Campbell 9.50%

Santa Cruz County 9.00%

City of Capitola 9.25%

City of Santa Cruz 9.50%

City of Scotts Valley* 9.25%

City of Watsonville 9.25%

Alameda County 9.75%

San Mateo County 9.25%

* The total includes the City of Scotts Valley Transactions and Use Tax rate that decreased to 0.25% from 0.50%.

California State Board of Equalization Website

The Tech Museum of Innovation, known for its vision to inspire, was the perfect location choice for Meg Whitman to present her vision for California if she were governor. With a welcoming by Tech Museum President Peter Friess and an introduction from Rajiv Dutta, Meg Whitman took the stage.

After briefly going over her educational background and personal life, she got down to business. And business is what Meg is all about. In fact as governor she would like to see California run as if it were a business. She understands the importance of small business (think eBay) and what it will take to make California the place for them to prosper. We can not let regulations and taxes set people and their dreams scurrying off to other states. Meg gets this.

I was left with the impression that Meg Whitman isn’t looking to be “just a professional politician.” Her passion, and her commitment to California was obvious. She has the type of leadership ability necessary to help individuals receive a good education, work to realize their goals, and in doing so put our state back on top.

Sound like an endorsement? – It may be.

Meg 2010 –  A New California

The Tech Museum of Innovation

I knew the campus was going to explode Tuesday night. And that’s where I wanted to be. I wanted to see for myself the reaction of such a historical moment in the faces of the young voters that helped make it happen. So when I heard the television announce Obama’s win, I grabbed my keys and jumped into the car, barreling towards the San Jose State campus.

It seems that I had just missed the celebration near the Tommie Smith and John Carlos statue. According to the Spartan Daily, about 150 students spontaneously gathered around the iconic statue screaming their heads off.

I also found this clip from CNN’s iReport (some language NSFW). You can see just how pitch black the area around the statue is. This celebration was impromptu, but people knew exactly where they wanted to stand at this moment, right beside two of SJSU’s own black history icons, that total darkness couldn’t keep them away.

I didn’t arrive on the scene until that larger group splintered into pockets of excitement and migrated towards more well-lit areas of campus. Out in the plaza area in front of the dorms, students were hugging, high-fiving and occasionally breaking out into chants of “O-ba-ma!”

I followed a friend into the dorms where a group of about 75-100 students crammed into a meeting room to watch both McCain’s and Obama’s speeches. (See the Spartan Daily’s video here.) The RAs brought in stacks of pizza and it was gone in 20 minutes. People were excited. People were jumping. People were hugging and screaming and accidentally knocking over soda. Some were gasping, some were silent, and some were obviously disappointed at the election results. But everyone seemed to be in agreement on two things: both speeches hit just the right tones, and there was simply not enough pizza.

I walked out of the building only to find some of the more rambunctious students ride a shopping cart down a sloping walkway, thrashing their vocal chords with screams of “OOOOOOBAAAAAMMAAAA!” all the way down. A group of black students beat-boxed and improvised rap lyrics to mark the occasion. Another group hugged every moving thing that passed their way. I could still hear all the commotion on my way back to my car.

Knowing that SJSU couldn’t have been the only celebratory hotspot in the neighborhood, I drove downtown with my windows down and listened out for any whoops and hollers. Some came from an occasional bar or two, some came from bicycle bells ringing, but not a whole lot of outright festivities. So I drove down a little further, turned the corner, and found exactly what I was looking for: a group of about 30 people marching down the streets, chanting, singing, waving to honking cars and celebrating every little bit of feedback sent their way.

I wanted to jump out of my car and take some pictures, but alas, I forgot my camera AND my phone.

So to those of you who were witness to that crowd — or heck, if you have pictures of ANY Election Day revelries/pity parties around the South Bay — please post them in the comments. I and everyone else would love to see them.

Today is your day. Make it count.

Your polling place is located here.

From the League of Women Voters of California Easy Voter Guide:

If you are a first time voter, you may have to show your ID.

If your name is not on the list of voters, you may still be able to vote with a provisional ballot. You can vote by provisional ballot at any polling place.

You do not have to vote on everything; vote on the things that matter to you.

There is no time limit for how long you may stay in the polling booth, nor are there limits on what you may take into the polling booth with you.

You can bring a friend or family member to help you at the polling place.

You can bring children with you when you vote.

If you make a mistake, you may request another paper ballot. Using any voting system, you have the right to be notified how to identify and correct specified errors in voting.

On October 16, 1968, SJSU students Tommie Smith and John Carlos made a silent gesture on top of the Olympic podium that shook the world and put San Jose on the map. Forty years later, the university will relive that spirit of activism by hosting Legacy Week from Oct. 13-16, according to the Spartan Daily (Read their excellent special section here).

Events include a keynote from activist rapper Chuck D of Public Enemy, public screenings of a documentary, a “Speed City” exhibition at the Cesar Chavez Community Action Center, and information on what SJSU has done — and continues to do — to encourage activism.

While out making the political rounds, I found myself at the Vote No On Prop 8 HQ here in San Jose.

I am one conservative who urges a No Vote On Prop 8.

Same-sex couples should not be treated differently under the law.

Yes Rosanne, now you are famous! Thanks for holding up the sign.

The Vote No On 8 site.