It’s fine to be “Ready for Hillary.” “Already Closed to Others” is a different matter, which is why I’m mystified by Equality California’s (EQCA) endorsement of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for president in 2016. Media outlets announced the endorsement Monday, March 16, an odd date for two reasons. First, the organization’s Web site…
Despite their national gains in the 2014 election, the Republican Party continues to struggle in California. All statewide elected offices are held by Democrats, and the GOP barely prevents supermajorities in the State Assembly and Senate. San Diego, the largest American city led by a Republican, is a bright spot by comparison. Still, 2016 presents…
The past week in Congress was largely an exercise in theater, not governance. House Republicans used Department of Homeland Security funding as a proxy battle on immigration policy, while their 2016 presidential candidates raced stage right at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Democrats stared into the wings to see if Hillary was there yet. Both…
Finding a way to keep the Chargers in San Diego is complicated. Arithmetic and self-interest are not, which is why I think the key players are making a ballot initiative more complicated than it needs to be. If you need two-thirds of voters to back a funding plan, tell most voters that it won’t cost…
I have a number of Republican friends and acquaintances. As the 2016 elections approach they will no doubt tout the benefits of smaller government and lower taxes, and suggest that social and religious conservatives no longer dominate the party. When they wonder why I don’t support Republicans at the national level, I will refer them…
Katy Perry’s performance at Super Bowl XLIX was the best half-time show I have seen. I say this knowing it puts my gay card at risk for both watching the “sportsbowl” enough years to compare her to prior performers, and because Beyoncé and Madonna were among them. But Perry had a motorized lion, dancing sharks…
On Tuesday, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons, rang the bell at the house of equality with a press conference discussing the Church’s view on LGBT equality. Having read the transcript, I was left with the same question as when missionaries knock on my door: am I letting in a welcoming…
The “original” Day of Decision for marriage equality in California was May 15, 2008, when the state Supreme Court endorsed a constitutional right to same-sex marriage. On Day of Decision II the same court declined to overturn Prop. 8. In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against DOMA and overturned Prop. 8, followed by a…
Oh the trials of writing a weekly political print column. Last week, in the day between submitting my big questions for the year and printing them, Sen. Barbara Boxer answered one of them by announcing she would not seek re-election in 2016. Since then, some of the major players have stolen my opportunity for impressive…
Barring an unexpected vacancy, 2015 should be a boring electoral year, as there won’t be any major offices open at the federal, state or local level. That doesn’t mean it will be a boring political year, particularly as candidates begin jockeying for 2016 races. The following are some of the major questions that will get…
