Meanwhile, Republicans kill Dem tax hike

While fiddling with loony bills that have little significance, California's loony Democrat-controlled assembly proposed an income tax increase that would primarily have raised taxes on high-bracket individuals and businesses. The bill would have reduced the $15 billion deficit by one-half. Dems needed two-thirds support of legislators to pass the bill, which they knew they didn't have. They brought the bill up for a vote anyway. Since no Republican voted for the measure it failed.

LAT says faculty advisors need protection

The LAT argues today in favor of a second loony bill from California's loony legislature, one that would protect faculty members who advise student newspapers from retaliation by school administrators. It's a Democrat sponsored bill, which is probably why the LAT supports it. But the problem the bill addresses isn't a problem worthy of legislation. It's a waste of time better spent working on the long overdue budget.

LAT argues for end run around U.S. Constitution

The LAT argues today in favor of a loony bill from California's loony legislature (which should be working on the budget crisis) that would try to make the Electoral College a non-factor in presidential elections.

Democrats are still smarting from the 2000 election in which Gore got more of the popular vote but lost to Bush in the Electoral College. That has happened a few times, very few. It isn't likely to happen again but could. Next time, however, Republicans could be on the losing end. But Democrats want to make sure it never happens again because they are sure Democrats will always win the popular vote.

The whole thing is silly. The LAT's arguments are manufactured.

LAT: Bush foreign policy in tatters

The LAT reports this morning that Bush's foreign policy efforts of more than seven years have failed because of events in Georgia, Iraq and Afghanistan. More depressing, Georgia had seemed a Bush success story until the collapse, the LAT says. Bush's efforts in Palestine resulted in Hamas's takeover in Gaza.

Bush, of course, is responsible for the Russian invasion of Georgia. After all, he befriended Saakashvili, making him overconfident and causing him to stick a Georgian finger in Russia's eye. The same thing occurred in Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia in 1968. Bush wasn't president then but he's still to blame. He should know that Russia can invade small countries in its sphere of influence whenever it gets irritated and those small countries should be advised to kow-tow to the Russians to keep them from getting upset. Fortunately, the LAT is still around to report such "news."

LAT evaluates McCain/Obama appearances

On Sunday morning, the LAT reported on the appearances of John McCain and Barack Obama at Saddleback Church in Southern California. In its wisdom, the LAT says Obama was analytical and nuanced and revealed more about his faith. McCain had the easier task, the LAT says, apparently meaning to suggest he had a friendlier audience. The LAT should know that readers are less interested in reporters' evaluations than in what the presidential candidates said.

LAT opposes loss carrybacks

The LAT argued on Saturday that allowing businesses to carry back losses under California's tax law, as federal law does, would reward Countrywide and companies like it at the expense of California's taxpayers. But taxing companies or people year by year is arbitrary. That's long been understood by people who analyze tax policies. Why choose a single year? Why not two, three or five year taxable periods? Isn't it fairer both to governments and taxpayers to level out year to year fluctuations? Wouldn't level tax revenues help solve California's binge-bust budget problems?

The LAT wants what it wants. First, to punish Countrywide and similar companies. The LAT wants to be judge and jury. Second, to get some money. California has a $15 billion budget deficit. Gotta cover it somehow.

LAT editors' bad mood

On Friday, August 15th, cranky LAT editors argued:

1. All Californians are guilty of mistreating prisoners of the state's penal system. The prisoners need $8 billion for health care. California has a $15 billion budget deficit. Combined, California has a $23 billion problem. Where will the money come from? The LAT's answer: wherever.

2. Now that Pelosi has done an about face on offshore drilling, Republicans are playing hardball. They want her to grovel. Republicans ought to sign on to her poison pill, the LAT argues.

3. Mukasey shouldn't be talking truth to powerful Democrats. He ought to hang Goodling, Gonzales and the rest. Commission of a crime isn't necessary, the LAT argues.