Monday’s Washington Post touted on page A3 how "Californians Shape Up as Force on Environmental Policy," over three large pictures of liberals Henry Waxman, Nancy Pelosi, and Barbara Boxer. Something amazing followed: the word "liberal" is never used in the piece to describe them. (Pelosi merely is pressed to "find common ground between conservative and liberal Democrats.") Reporter Lyndsey Layton’s feat began in paragraph one:
California Democrats will assume pivotal roles in the new Congress and White House, giving the state an outsize influence over federal policy and increasing the likelihood that its culture of activist regulation will be imported to Washington.
Despite the Post’s welcoming of a "culture of activist regulation," Layton actually attempted to dismiss the idea that Waxman/Pelosi/Boxer will be in ideological lockstep:
One longtime Capitol Hill observer cautioned that although these Californians are in key positions to shape federal policy, they don't necessarily share a single California philosophy. [!] Still, they have been shaped by experience in a state that has led the nation in regulatory policy.
Layton also found a liberal political scientist to suggest moderation will follow:
Barbara Sinclair, a political scientist at the University of California at Los Angeles, said the Californians are pragmatic and mindful of overreaching. "All these folks really want to make policy change," she said. "On the other hand, they very, very much want to stay in power."
To complete this act of journalistic servility to the California liberals, Layton quoted from a telephone interview with Senator Boxer, but the sophisticated reader would wonder why the Post would need a phone interview to solicit the press-release quotes that were offered:
"California has always valued protecting the environment and health and safety of our people," Boxer said in a telephone interview. "The people from California who are coming here to work on this and Congressman Waxman and myself, we are very strong on this."
And: "Californians coming, they don't have to rewrite the laws. They just have to enforce them. It's like the EPA has been asleep for eight years. The Californians are coming to wake the sleeping beauty."
Only liberals would see an entrenched regulatory agency as a "sleeping beauty."
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.





















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Ah yes, California....
December 29, 2008 - 10:14 ET by Prester John....the state with the $41 BILLION deficit.
I'm sure the people they continue to send to Congress will whip the federal government into shape once BHO is the Prez.
Sigh.
Outrageous Taxes... Taxes On Deficits...
December 29, 2008 - 20:12 ET by JDWImagine darkening car windows, pulling inside a remote garage, just to have a cigarette.
JDW
DAILY WAVE
Whatever else you think, your mother and my mother are both mothers
California Experience
December 29, 2008 - 10:17 ET by philhoeyIf California is the measure of all that is good and wonderful then someone needs to get off the sound stage and look at the real world.
The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” – Marcus Aurelius
I think of many things
December 29, 2008 - 10:28 ET by ArminiusWhen I think of Waxman/Pelosi/Boxer. However, beauty, sleeping or otherwise, is not one of those things.
Here's a clue...
December 29, 2008 - 10:30 ET by AJBGee, let's look at the amazing success story for California... overwhelmed with illegals, almost bankrupt, over taxed, way over regulated, preponderance of the people there are lawyers suing for everything every time you turn around. Yeah, lets spread that love to the rest of us...
Activist regulation?
December 29, 2008 - 10:40 ET by BKeyserIs it just me or does anyone else feel like the word "activist" should be looked at with a great deal of caution? And isn't the term "activist regulation" a sort of dichotomy? I read that as "anti-establishment controls."
But, then again, I may have left out the most important part of this -and the explanation to my questions- California Democrats.
I forgot "pragmatic"
December 29, 2008 - 10:45 ET by BKeyserThis is one of the new Democratic/MSM buzzwords, apparently; we've been seeing it since the debates. So how does pragmatic: meaning- businesslike, down-to-earth, practical-- and "progressive": meaning- forward-thinking, revolutionary, advanced-- live in the same White House?
Kal-E-Fornicate
December 29, 2008 - 10:45 ET by rick007Let me get this stright . Kal-E-Fornicate wants the rest of the states to bail them out when thay tell us to shove our immigration laws.
They have massive oil and gas reserves which not only would bring in massive revenues to their state and help us get off of forgein oil and thay tell us not in our back yard.
I think Pelosi and Allan Colms are brother and sister . They look alike.
Screw you Kal-E-Fornicators. go back to Mexico. good riddence you pack of perverts.
I'm not feelin' the love...
December 29, 2008 - 10:51 ET by sherylsimsI'm not feelin' the love...
Reid
December 29, 2008 - 10:49 ET by rick007Wanna bet the 40 Billion Mono Rail will go through from Vegas to Kal.
They were all up in arms about the bridge to nowhere but loved the 15 Billion killer Big Dig to beautify downtown Boostoon.
Democrats are the lowest people in the U.S.
CA Clean
December 29, 2008 - 20:20 ET by JDWHard to believe these people are not exploring hands-free transit
JDW
DAILY WAVE
Whatever else you think, your mother and my mother are both mothers
it is hard for a reasonable person to stay sane in cali
December 29, 2008 - 20:41 ET by porpoiseboysometimes. with all the idiocy here, it can get almost unbearable. i ask that you join me in the "state of jefferson" movememt. http://www.jeffersonstate.com/
it has not died, even though it may be nearly impossible in practicality, it must remain a state of mind to stay sane.
"Here comes the orator! With his flood of words, and his drop of reason" Ben Franklin
Ecclesiastes 10:2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left
Just looking at what
December 29, 2008 - 10:57 ET by DuymonJust looking at what they've done to California... I'm very, very worried about what they'll do to this country.
Regulation is the worst thing we need right now as it'll create barrier after barrier after barrier to a swift market correction which is the one thing America needs the most.
Revoke 'em
December 29, 2008 - 11:16 ET by nkviking75After a couple of days for any remaining conservatives to escape, let's revoke California's statehood.
Welcome to the era of unity, you racist!
A couple of DAYS!?!?! Give
December 29, 2008 - 11:23 ET by sherylsimsA couple of DAYS!?!?! Give us a little time to pack and look at a map for where we could escape to, will ya?
Urgency
December 29, 2008 - 11:30 ET by nkviking75Sorry. I was overcome with the urgency of ditching Pelosi, Boxer, Feinstein, et al.
Welcome to the era of unity, you racist!
Believe me, I wish we could
December 29, 2008 - 11:37 ET by sherylsimsBelieve me, I wish we could ditch em too. I fear for what might replace them though. I have lived here my whole life and I understand your frustration. Imagine living in it. But there are still things here worth keeping. You don't want to cut us loose just yet. (If you just wait, I hear we will be falling into the ocean someday anyway)
not a bad idea
December 29, 2008 - 11:48 ET by AJBI always thought we move all illegals to southern california and build a wall starting in oxnard, across and down to the Colorado River near Yuma. We then just give it back to Mexico. Problem solved!!
The problem is not really
December 29, 2008 - 11:56 ET by sherylsimsThe problem is not really solved for anyone but YOU. California is an important part of America just as much as Texas or New York or any other state that any of yo'all live in. If you look at the red/blue areas of California, you will see that you would be giving away quite a few conservatives in the bargain. You have my permission to give them the big cities. But while you are at it, give them New York and Chicago as well. There. Are you happy now?
hey
December 29, 2008 - 12:13 ET by AJBYour point? I'm a new liberal. The world revolves around ME! Or, did I read my liberal primer incorrectly??
Well then, as a new liberal,
December 29, 2008 - 12:21 ET by sherylsimsWell then, as a new liberal, you would probably be very comfortable here. Just stay away from my house if you be thinking you are going to give it away to the illegals. We have sniper nests on the roof.
AJB...
December 29, 2008 - 12:02 ET by Clear thinkerI have a much better idea. How about we move all the illegals to the other side of the southern border of california. I'm not willing to give up one speck of dust to outsiders that break our laws!
Israeli Attack Confusion?
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
I like that idea much
December 29, 2008 - 12:09 ET by sherylsimsI like that idea much better than just cutting us off and giving us to Mexico. They didn't do anything to deserve being given such a prime piece of real estate. There really is a lot to love about California. Just not the politics or beaurocracy.
Just trying to inject a
December 29, 2008 - 12:16 ET by Clear thinkerJust trying to inject a little common sense in this argument. I may not be a huge fan of California, but I'm willing to fight for it. Until further notice, or until Obama carves it up and gives it away, California is still part of the USA and we should never consider giving illegals a dam* thing.
Israeli Attack Confusion?
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
have you?
December 29, 2008 - 12:26 ET by AJBHave you been there recently? Its already been overtaken by Mexico. Everywhere you go, its a barrio. Gangs everwhere. Spanish is the predominant language. Mexican flags outnumber American flags. Viva la raza is what you hear on the streets. No, we've already lost it. Let's cut our losses now and save grief later.
Not true AJB
December 29, 2008 - 12:36 ET by sherylsimsI live here. And I have also visited Mexico. There is a HUGE difference between the two. I will admit to being aggrivated when the cultures collide here, but it isn't all as you describe it.
Are you also in favor of giving more of Israel's land to the Palestinians because they have decided to make it theirs? It is almost the same argument. "Give them what they want, and then we will have peace."
The answer is to enforce the laws we have. Since that isn't happening, is it time to give up? Some of us here are still hoping that California could be saved from the wack-o's.
I realize that. I also
December 29, 2008 - 12:27 ET by sherylsimsI realize that. I also realize nobody is gonna be "giving away" California any time soon. (At least I sure hope not) I probably would even agree about it not being worth keeping if I didn't live here and know that what is evident in the governmental and environmental aspects of the issue is not all there is to see. There are quite a few "pockets of idiocity" all over the country, and some of them happen to be in California. That doesn't make the whole state worthless.
I will agree though, the idiocracy here is out of control.
Don't forget...
December 29, 2008 - 18:35 ET by Dan DiegoCalifornia is a magnet for all the other states freaks, wanna-be movie stars and happy folks flocking to the alternative lifestyle haven of SF. Maybe we could send of them home along with the illegals and regain control of this state.
Oh, they mean the way they
December 29, 2008 - 11:33 ET by RR GOPOh, they mean the way they 'regulated' Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac?
At what point does one finally admit that their particular ideology does not work...never I suppose?
I think the main difference between the Communists and the Conservatives is that with the Communists failure is not an option, whereas with the Conservatives failure is something from which one learns.
One of the 24% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 89% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
dontchathink...
December 29, 2008 - 11:59 ET by AJBRegulation would only be for those not toeing the party line... so a spendocrat has $100,000 in his freezer... no problem, not illegal. Cold hard cash for campaigns or fun totally allowed. Whip out your willie to a woman? No problem, if you're spendocrat. If you're Bob Packwood, you MUST resign for even lusting in your heart (no physical action required). Just the thought makes you guilty. Free speech? OK if you're MSM campaigning for Comrade Glorious Supreme Leader Obama. Bad if you're Rush Limbaugh. You have to get with the newthink and newspeak. Its really easy if you have no brain.
Well, I've noticed that
December 29, 2008 - 12:52 ET by andophiroxiaWell, I've noticed that they aren't even happy in WINNING. It's like they LIVE to be the underdog. So, while they were the underdog they could whine and moan all they wanted to, and people would listen to them because the liberals were never asked to PROVE anything.
Well, they're in the spotlight now, and they have to prove that they were right. However, as one lib friend said, "We will be standing in breadlines, but I was right." but they don't get how much tomfoolery that they have to do in order to make people poor to prove that they were "right". Looking at the people of America, they will be very wrong, because we don't care to live that way.
“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” ~ Winston Churchill
More liberal mythology
December 29, 2008 - 11:58 ET by easygoerThis is from James Freeman WSJ_ Oct. 31, 2008
....Wayne Crews of the Competitive Enterprise Institute tracks
regulation across the entire federal government. He reports that the
Bush administration set an all-time record in 2004, when it published
more than 75,000 pages of proposed and enacted rules in the Federal
Register.
Leftists might assume that many of these rules were actually
watering down earlier standards -- but where's the evidence of
declining compliance costs? Lafayette College economist Mark Crain
estimates more than $1.1 trillion in federal regulatory costs for 2004,
up an inflation-adjusted 16% from 2000. Overall agency enforcement
budgets have increased each year since 2004.
A recent report, "Regulatory Agency Spending Reaches New Height,"
from Washington University's Weidenbaum Center puts Mr. Bush's
regulatory activity in historical context. Co-authors Veronique de Rugy
and Melinda Warren say that when it comes to spending on regulatory
agencies, our current president is almost in a class by himself, with
an increase of almost 68% during his two terms. In constant dollars the
Bush regulatory budget increases vastly exceed those of predecessors
Clinton, Bush, Reagan, Carter, Nixon and, yes, Lyndon Johnson.
Looking at regulatory spending in percentage terms, Mr. Bush's
staggering 2003 increase of more than 24% was the largest in the last
50 years. If Mr. Obama considers this a record of deregulation -- and
if current polls hold -- America's economy could be in for a very long
four years.
Typical libs; why let actual facts ruin a good tale?
The entire article can be found here: http://online.wsj.co...
When I think of Waxman, Pelosi, and Boxer...
December 29, 2008 - 12:34 ET by R D Helm...I am reminded of Stalin, Mao and Unclo Ho.
I now believe that the left's ultimate design is the total destruction of the US economy. When you take a hard look at the totality of what they are proposing, both in confiscatory taxes, and sharp increases in the regulation of an already over-regulated economy, it is the only conclusion that makes any real sense.
For well over one hundred years, the enemies of freedom have been trying their utmost to socialize this country. They came very close in the 1930s to bring it about through the ballot box, but were, to a certain extent, beaten back.
They tried to go through the ballot box again in the 1960s and, once again, they were partially beaten back.
They then cooked up the AGW scam in an effort to scare the gullible among us into voting the socialists into power, but that hasn't worked out all that well for them, as despite some early successes, the climate of the planet just hasn't been cooperating with them.
The only thing route have left is to create a bad enough economic environment that it will cause the majority of the people to willingly vote them into power, purely out of fear of want.
Given the results of the last three national elections, where there was a fairly clear distinction between those who supported socialism and those who still supported a free market, and particularly the results this past November, when naked socialism was voted for by 65 million Americans, I am not exactly optimistic.
I believe that this time, the socialists will prevail.
-Dave
Unfortunately, they don't
December 29, 2008 - 12:57 ET by andophiroxiaUnfortunately, they don't know how bad socialism is. When their spending power goes way down ($4 a gallon gas) and that they don't get to do what they want, us "selfish" people will realize how stupid it is.
I've gone into the highs and lows of these. Even though we argue that we are getting socialized each day, Communism never really took off in highly industrialized areas, rather the agrarian, low-tech governments where the people were slaves anyway. Communism did offer at least on the surface some respite, BUT those people never knew what it was to be free anyway.
McCain was Obama lite at the beginning. He supported a lot of the stuff Obama wanted (cap-and-trade, amnesty, etc.), so he never really gave himself a clear differentiation, and I think that's what hurt him. Only with Palin did he actually have a differing and contrasting element.
Looking back, he probably would have thrown her under the bus many, many, times, plus done a lot of socialism under the term "Republican".
“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” ~ Winston Churchill
Regulation
December 29, 2008 - 14:25 ET by rick007Remember it's regulation for you not for them.
Please, oh please big
December 29, 2008 - 17:04 ET by HockeyKidPlease, oh please big government, take my money and figure out what to do with it. Besides feeding and housing my family, supporting my church, sending my kids to school, getting to and from work, giving to charities, and investing in business, I can't think of a single thing to do with it!
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
California is scary!
December 29, 2008 - 21:57 ET by pbthinkerWhat has California ever done that's been successful? They keep on making their emission standards tougher and tougher and they still have smog in LA. They keep passing rediculous laws that cost the state money and they will be bankrupt sometime next year. Is this the model we're looking for? They have towns declaring bankruptcy, because of the laws that have been passed, and this is the model we're looking for?
Waxman is the scariest of the bunch because, it seems the more wacky he gets, the more votes he gets. This moron isn't worried about getting re-elected. The only good thing is that, with him in charge of anything, we'll see why the Democrats shouldn't be in charge of a thing.
Election 2008-God's way of showing us that elections count.
Look what neighboring
December 29, 2008 - 23:18 ET by bigtimerLook what neighboring Oregon wants to do their citizens...plus notice they say those in the rural areas wouldn't be affected...
My arse...they always find a way.
This is spooky in the long run....I have heard some a bit here and there about this, but this looks to be on the horizon...this hasn't been in the works for all this time for nothing.
I hate what has happened to the West and NW over the last three or more decades now.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh