GadflyRadio: Recent Episodes
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in California’s Latest Environmental Boondoggle The facts about Jerry Brown’s misguided plan to “save” the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. an excerpt: “The administration’s plan will tear up the Delta for at least 10 years. We know how government infrastructure projects are always delayed, so it’s anyone’s guess how long it actually will take. Even its advocates […]
…Republicans need to make Obama own the class issue since his record is fairly indefensible. The fortunes of the middle quintiles of Americans have been eroding pretty much since Obama took office in 2009. There’s nothing fundamentally unRepublican about class warfare. After all, the party – led by what was then called Radical Republicans […]
Ben Boychuk of City Journal California and the Sacramento Bee will talk about how the Democrats in the California state legislature are working to undermine the initiative process that has kept government excesses in check for the past century. He’ll also talk about California’s efforts to undermine the Second Amendment. Wayne Lusvardi of CalWatchDog.com will […]
The first hour I spoke with Dave Workman, Communications Executive with The 2nd Amendment Foundation. Chuck Michael, a civil rights attorney with the California Rifle and Pistol Association joined us. The second hour I talked with Eapen Thampy, Executive Director for Americans for Forfeiture Reform. We talked about the Caswell’s Motel, the recent Federal Court […]
Here’s an excerpt: Apple, Google, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft are far from “the workers of the world,” but closer to modern-day robber barons. Through their own ingenuity, access to capital and often oligopolistic hold on lucrative markets, they have enjoyed one of the greatest accumulations of wealth in recent economic history, even amidst generally declining […]
We’ll be talking guns, money, taxes, and the “war on drugs” used to seize assets from innocent bystander citizens. Dave Workman of The 2nd Amendment Foundation joins us to talk about moves to “Do Something!” now, a.k.a. to save us from the danger of guns out there. And we’ll have our own local CA expert, […]
From AppealDemocrat.com Steven Greenhut: Despite his apologies, Mickelson had it right January 26, 2013 09:52:00 PM Rebels, non conformists, free thinkers, independent-minded ones, anyone who believes in individual liberty, the human spirit, the power of entrepreneurship, this is a serious wake-up call. After hearing the storm of criticism directed toward golfer Phil Mickelson for his […]
Sunday’s The Daily Democrat published State’s wall of debt dead ahead, by Steven Greenhut, potent enough to keep you up at night, if you practice a habit of conscious critical thought. A cursory glance at Gov. Jerry Brown’s new budget could make you believe that California’s days of fiscal gloom are over as he champions […]
The civil right achievements of Martin Luther King are quite justly the focus of the annual birthday commemoration of his legacy. But it is remarkable, as I’ve noted before on this holiday, how completely his vehement anti-war advocacy is ignored when commemorating his life (just as his economic views are). By King’s own description, his […]
The horrific crime happened on Friday. I couldn’t log on to the internet that morning, where I was staying. I looked at Facebook, and read a post on the newsfeed about how children must be wondering why their parents are hugging them and telling them how much they were loved. I knew something had happened, […]
My thanks to a friend on my facebook page for summarizing the point of this story. The innate evil of the State is starkly evident in this story, yet so many among us will still wring hands and agonize over what we can and should do to make government be good. DOJ nabs nearly $7 […]
The police officer sons of two south Texas law enforcement chiefs who made fighting corruption the cornerstones of their careers have been taken into custody on suspicion of waylaying drug caches coming across the border from Mexico. Federal agents investigating several border departments west and south of McAllen arrested Jonathan Treviño, the son of Lupe […]
In Blue State Suicide Pact, Joel Kotkin explains. Here’s an excerpt: The people whose wallets will be drained in the new war on “the rich” are high-earning, but hardly plutocratic professionals like engineers, doctors, lawyers, small business owners and the like. Once seen as the bastion of the middle class, and exemplars of upward mobility, […]
In theaters now, everywhere, one can go see a perpetuation of the myth of Lincoln as hero, a great example of propaganda that romanticizes the State’s grotesque use of violence to solidify and expand its power, while it glosses over obscene violations of individual liberties. Jeffery Tucker writes “To be sure, this was a mind-bending […]
The elections have fallen heavily upon a body of individuals who took their passion and pushed with all their heart and mind, to throw back the tentacles of the State, that grows exponentially, without pause. Activists who thought there was momentum, and a large enough constituency whose consciousness was elevated and was present to the […]
Tough-on-crime usually means tough-on-taxpayers. by Steven Greenhut| Nov 30, 2012 For advocates of less-intrusive government, finding the good news in the recent election is like looking on the bright side after your house has been wiped out by a hurricane. You never did like that floor plan, anyway, and this seems like a great opportunity […]
In Let’s Hear It for Scandal! Gene Healy writes: At a minimum, scandals serve as a useful reminder that we’re usually led by people of questionable competence, miserable judgment and a flexible relationship with the truth. At their best, they can even provoke much-needed reforms. As disgraced former CIA head Gen. David Petraeus snuck […]
So writes Steven Greenhut in The Republican American, a CT based and online publication. It is hard for education reformers to be too optimistic about the post-strike prospects for Chicago schools… Click to read post here.
Tuesday Oct 16, 2012, at 10 AM PT, Martha Montelongo, with John Seiler, managing editor at CalWatchDog.com, and Ben Boychuk, Associate Editor with City Journal welcome Brian Calle, Senior Fellow with Pacific Research Institute and Editor in Chief at CalWatchDog.com. This is Gadfly Radio’s last show. Brian Calle joins us to talk about the statewide […]
Tuesday Oct 9, 2012, at 10 AM PT, Martha Montelongo, with John Seiler, managing editor at CalWatchDog.com, and Ben Boychuk, Associate Editor with City Journal welcome Allan Hoffenblum, Publisher of the California Target Book, owner of Allan Hoffenblum & Associates and contributor to Fox & Hounds Daily. Due to redistricting and the new top two […]
It’s a win-win for Big Govt and Crony Capitalists, a big loss for affordable clean energy, accountability, a healthy free market economy, free people. This L.A. Times story tells a lot: Taxpayers, ratepayers will fund California solar plants THE SOLAR DESERT A new breed of prospectors — banks, insurers, utility companies — are receiving billions […]
I went to a fund raising event for Bruce Whitaker and Travis Kiger in Fullerton, CA and was happy to share some T’s with these impressive citizen activists for clean, transparent and accountable government. The T’s are beefy 100 percent cotton, size XL. The front says Gadfly Radio with Martha Montelongo and CalWatchDog. The back […]
Tuesday Oct 2, 2012, at 10 AM PT, Martha Montelongo, with John Seiler, managing editor at CalWatchDog.com, and Ben Boychuk, Associate Editor with City Journal welcome Mark Cabaniss, and Chris Reed. Mark Cabaniss is an attorney from Kelseyville, CA. He has worked as a prosecutor and public defender. In September he penned two articles […]
Three more shows. Mark Cabaniss, and Chris Reed, Oct 2, Allan Hoffenblum on Oct 9, and Brian Calle on Oct 16. Allan Hoffenblum is the publisher of The CA Target Book. Special Feature: Due to redistricting and the new top two Open Primary, there will be more competitive races for congress and the state legislature […]
Tuesday September 24, 2012, at 10 AM PT, Martha Montelongo, with John Seiler, managing editor at CalWatchDog.com, and Ben Boychuk, Associate Editor with City Journal welcome Lisa Snell, director of education and child welfare at Reason Foundation. Lisa has recently been debating some formidable adversaries concerning some of the ballot initiatives. We’ll talk with her […]
Out of the Equation: California courts educational failure if it does away with eighth-grade algebra. by Ze’ev Wurman and Bill Evers | City Journal | 14 September 2012 A bill sitting on Governor Jerry Brown’s desk would upend 15 years of achievement in mathematics by California students. Sponsored by Oakland Democratic senator Loni Hancock, Senate […]
From Sunday September 16, 2012 at 8:13 AM PDT 1) Here’s the latest from Chicago, courtesy of DFER’s Joe Williams. It’s hard to tell how strong Rahm stood (keep in mind, below are the highlights provided by the union, which is trying to persuade its members to accept the deal): Union delegates will vote on […]
Tuesday September 18, 2012, at 10 AM PT, Martha Montelongo, with John Seiler, managing editor at CalWatchDog.com, and Ben Boychuk, Associate Editor with City Journal welcome Larry Sand, President of California Teacher’s Empowerment Network CTENhome.org We’ll speak with Larry, Ben and John about the Chicago Teacher’s Union Strike, the brokered deal that was not good […]
Labor organizations have made defeating the measure a top priority this fall, since it would squeeze their political spending resources. The measure would ban payroll-deducted monies from use for political purposes, cutting off unions’ chief means of raising such funds. Corporations would come under the same restrictions, but the measure wouldn’t impact them as significantly […]
How Michelle Rhee Is Taking Over the Democratic Party Molly Ball | Sep 8, 2012 In a major shift, education reformers are now influential at the highest levels of the party once dominated by the teachers unions. Click here to read the story
Tuesday September 11, 2012, at 10 AM PT, Martha Montelongo, with Wayne Lusvardi, contributing writer at CalWatchDog.com, and Ben Boychuk, Associate Editor with City Journal welcome Richard Rider, Chairman of the San Diego Tax Fighters. Rider will talk with us about his recent post about CA State Assemblyman Ben Hueso’s poison-pill ploy to sabotage pension reform […]
Tuesday September 4, 2012, at 10 AM PT, Martha Montelongo, with John Seiler, Managing Editor at CalWatchDog.com welcome Adam Elmahrek, who, last Tuesday, reported on Police Unions Bullying City Councilmen, in this Voice of OC article. (Ben Boychuk, Associate Editor with City Journal is out this week.) Update: Wayne Lusvardi will be joining us on […]
Steven Greenhut | August 31, 2012 California city officials typically spare police officers even modest reductions in the pay and pension packages that are a main source of local budget problems, even when the other alternatives are cuts in public services or even municipal bankruptcy. The common explanation is politicians are afraid of the cop […]
How serious are the Legislators, to real pension and retirement healthcare reform for public employees? The two houses have passed and sent to the Gov for signing, AB 2451, which extends the number of years a claim may be filed for a work related fatal injury or illness, from 4 years to 9. Katy Grimes […]
In case you’re lulled or enticed into buying the spin from Jerry Brown or the Legislators who cower when the most powerful and richest of the special interest groups gnash their teeth, here’s a look into our collective future if we don’t turn off their spigot of cash they use to buy, bully, and control […]
The Sacramento Bee unearths a stunning fact about the growth in spending on state workers. California’s state government had 9.3 percent more employees in 2011 than it did 10 years earlier – closely tracking overall population growth – but its payroll costs had jumped by 42.4 percent, according to a new Census Bureau report. Needless […]
Tuesday August 28, 2012, at 10 AM PT, Martha Montelongo, with John Seiler, Managing Editor at CalWatchDog.com, and Ben Boychuk, Associate Editor with City Journal welcome Troy Anderson, to discuss his recent article published on CalWatchDog.com, Stockton leads tsunami of Calif bankruptcies. As a growing number of cities in California are contemplating or filing bankruptcy, […]
Gloria Romero, former CA State Senator and former CA State Senate Majority Leader, speaks out in this stinging investigative report which shows how powerful the special interests are, even at the expense of the safety of our children from sexual predators. According to Maplight, the four Democrat Senators in the powerful Education Committee who abstained […]
David Crane has a new piece cross posted today at Fox and Hounds Daily and on Advancing a New Society The title, With Retirement Costs Consuming One-Fifth of Discretionary Spending, California Must Reduce Un-Accrued Pension Benefits makes the point plain and simple. Then Crane breaks it down, for those who don’t understand the distinctions of […]
The 9th Circuit Should Reverse Ruling in California Police Whistle-blower Case Dahlia v. Rodriguez Sets Dangerous Precedent, Chills Police Officers’ First Amendment Rights Aug. 21, 2012 WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Burbank police officer who blew the whistle on police misconduct is protected by the First Amendment, Public Citizen told the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of […]
Tuesday August 21, 2012, at 10 AM PT, Martha Montelongo, with John Seiler, Managing Editor at CalWatchDog.com, and Ben Boychuk, Associate Editor with City Journal welcome Jack Humpreville, the LA Watchdog for CityWatch and David Phelps, National Communications Director for The Parent Revolution. Tune in LIVE at 10:00 a.m. PDT on CRNtalk.com on CRN 1 […]
Jack Humphreville writes LA Watchdog for CityWatch He is the President of the DWP Advocacy Committee and the Ratepayer Advocate for the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council. Humphreville is the publisher of the Recycler — www.recycler.com. He can be reached at: lajack@gmail.com See his piece CalPERS Thuggery Highlights Pension Scam
LA WATCHDOG – In a stunt that would make South American strongman Hugo Chavez proud, the imperious California Public Employees Retirement System (“CalPERS”) and the bankrupt City of Stockton conspired to give an absolute preference to Stockton’s $147 million pension obligation ($245 million over the next ten years) to CalPERS over Stockton’s remaining creditors who […]
Senator Romero joins Gadfly Radio Tuesday, Aug 14, at 10 am PT. Romero has always been a champion for civil liberties, throughout her entire career as an elected official. She was a teacher before she went into politics and she has always been popular and respected for her courage and bold leadership on issues that […]
By Sean Dunagan, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Posted on Radley Balko’s site, The Agitator The war on drugs has claimed innumerable victims. The tens of thousands killed in Mexico, the half a million incarcerated here for nonviolent drug offenses, the taxpayers who have funded it all to the tune of a trillion dollars. But one […]
Tuesday, August 7, Retired L.A.P.D. Deputy Chief of Police, Stephen Downing, and Wayne Lusvardi join Martha Montelongo, with John Seiler, Managing Editor at CalWatchDog.com, and Ben Boychuk, Associate Editor with City Journal. Stephen Downing, Retired Deputy Chief of Police, L.A.P.D. joins us to discuss the issues with Anaheim. Points to consider for redress. How to […]
Tuesday, July 31, Judge Jim Gray, Larry Sand, and Katie Grimes join Martha Montelongo, with John Seiler, Managing Editor at CalWatchDog.com, and Ben Boychuk, Associate Editor with City Journal. Judge Jim Gray authored Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed and What We Can Do About It: A Judicial Indictment of the War on Drugs. “It […]
Is California the welfare capital? Delving into why California has such a disproportionate share of the nation’s recipients WELFARE IN CALIFORNIA 34% Of the nation’s welfare recipients live in California but only 12% of the U.S. population resides here. How we compare California: $179 New York leads the nation: $256 Idaho is at the bottom: […]
Truck owner wants DEA to pay up after botched sting By Dane Schiller Updated 08:20 p.m., Sunday, July 29, 2012 Craig Patty is seeking damages after his truck was used without his permission as part of a botched law-enforcement operation that left the driver dead. “Your driver was shot in your truck,” said the caller, […]
Anaheim Riots Spotlight Need for Broad Police Reform The city’s law enforcement culture values aggressiveness over community policing. Steven Greenhut | Reason.com | July 27, 2012 While Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait is, thankfully, no Frank Rizzo, he tried his hand at tough-guy rhetoric at a press conference: “Vandalism, arson and other forms of violent protest […]