Skelton wants action

LAT columnist George Skelton writes this morning that because of legislative gridlock in Sacramento, worthwhile legislation is being ignored. But frankly, if California's legislature was given a permanent vacation, Californians would hardly notice. Last year, the legislature presented the governator with nearly 1,000 bills for signature. Chances are, few of those bills had been read by any senator or assemblyman or woman. Most were undoubtedly written by lobbyist or staff with little input from legislators.

Californians need a time out. They need to send the legislators home for a year or two, without pay or benefits. Before allowing the legislators to return to Sacramento, the legislators should be reminded of how well the state got along without them.

The legislature's primary duty is to pass a budget. That it hasn't done yet. The budget is now a month and a half overdue.

LAT loves high gasoline prices

A LAT editorial yesterday argued that high gasoline prices are good because they force people to change their behavior. Well, it does show that the market works.

LAT reminds us of nuclear dangers

On yesterday's front page, the LAT reported on nuclear waste at the Hanover site in Washington state. The federal government built several nuclear reactors there beginning in 1943, originally to make plutonium for the A-bombs dropped on Japan during World War II. The site is being cleaned up at a cost of $2 billion according to the LAT. Presumably, the piece is intended to remind people of the dangers of nuclear power, since that is in the news currently as a possible partial solution to the energy crisis.

LAT argues for Hamdan release

Without admitting they were wrong when they said that military tribunals couldn't be just, the LAT now argues that Hamdan should be released so that the world will not get the idea that military tribunals are useless because whatever the verdict the defendant stays in jail.

LAT sees Dem victory

LAT reporter Peter Wallsten visits Florida and declares Democrats winners of next fall's election -- based on his observations, which are highly scientific, not.

LAT columnist recommends bribery

LAT liberal columnist George Skelton has a solution for California's budget crises: bribe some Republicans in the California legislature with judgeships or other cool jobs, or cash. Dem legislators need two Republicans in the Senate and seven in the Assembly in order to pass tax increases, the only way Dems can think of to balance the state's budget, which has a $15 billion hole. Cutting expenditures never occurs to them.

So that's what's taking so long -- the budget deadline was June 30th? The Republicans who plan to sell their votes are waiting for better offers.

LAT can't leave Plame affair

Like most other Democrats, the LAT is attached to the Plame affair like a crab's claw to a plump finger. Shake it all you want but the crab hangs on.

Democrats think there's justification for their fixation in there somewhere but a special counsel has pursued the case ad infinitum. There isn't anything significant that hasn't already been revealed.

The same applies to the U.S. attorneys firings, except that there has been no special counsel. Instead there have been endless Congressional investigations. Now, a federal district court judge has refused to provide a blanket exemption to Harriet Miers and Josh Bolten from testifying before Congress. But district court judges are often overruled by appellate courts.

The LAT says Congress and the administration should negotiate. It's a little late to suggest that. They've already negotiated. Democrats want a show trial and wont give up until they get one, or until the Supremes tell them to cease and desist.