California

Still a Meathead

In an article we posted last December, Give Your Children to us – Now, we pointed out that the liberals in California are trying to get their hands deeper into the pockets of taxpayers by using worthwhile-sounding deceptions to make us all think higher taxes are for the better. Rob Reiner, a.k.a. “Meathead,” and his liberal associates are driving tax-paying businesses and residents out of the Golden State. Reiner’s tactics are called out very nicely in this article from Opinion Journal’s editorial staff:

Meathead Economics

It takes hard work to drive anyone away from California’s sunshine and scenic vistas, but politicians in Sacramento have been up to the task.

The latest Census Bureau data indicate that, in 2005, 239,416 more native-born Americans left the state than moved in. California is also on pace to lose domestic population (not counting immigrants) this year.

[ . . . ]

And things may soon get worse, thanks to Rob Reiner, who played the liberal “Meathead” on the “All in the Family” sitcom in the 1970s and now plays the same part in real life. He and his rich Hollywood friends have put an initiative on the state’s June ballot that would add a 1.7-percentage-point income-tax surcharge on “millionaires” with income over $400,000, with the proceeds earmarked for universal pre-school.

This isn’t Mr. Reiner’s first foray into confiscatory tax politics. Last year he sponsored a ballot initiative narrowly approved by voters that imposed a percentage-point income-tax surcharge (to the current 10.3%) to pay for government mental-health subsidies. And in the late 1990s he helped to pass an initiative to raise the state’s tobacco tax by 50 cents a pack to pay for children’s health care.

[ . . . ]

I think it’s time to induct Meathead into the Star Whores Hall of Shame. Welcome Rob Reiner to the “Most Destructive Liberals” gallery in the SWHS.

Damsel Sends You Catalina Island

This is a nice wide shot of the entire island of Catalina. The island is about 22 miles from end to end, and that entire span is visible in this view. This shot was made from a vantage point on the Palos Verdes Peninsula at elevation 800 feet above sea level. It was so clear that day, we could see Santa Barbara Island at a distance of 40 or so miles to the west. The view of Catalina was so clear that we could discern the famous Casino at the far east (left) end of the island with the naked eye from the mainland. You can see it as a white speck in the inset from another photo taken without a telephoto lens.

Roundabouts

Retired Geezer at Blog Idaho put out this article on a traffic circle being proposed for Nampa County; the Geezer says:

Blog Idaho: Roundabouts: Good or Bad?

A Roundabout is a traffic circle that replaces an intersection. They are popular in Europe, which should be enough to make me question their value.

I don’t remember hearing anything positive about them from friends who had them installed in their neighborhoods. I think their complaint was that when trucks got in the middle, they had trouble getting out safely. Here in I-Dee-Ho, we have trucks pulling 2 and 3 trailers.
Not to mention ungainly farm equipment.

How about all you Big-City-Folks telling us what you think.

Don’t do it! you might wind up with a circle-jerk like this one in Long Beach, California:

Long Beach Traffic Circle – Google Maps

Damsel and I just HATE to drive through that mess, and avoid it if we can. We hated driving in Washington, D.C. for the same reason.

Medics Delay Morales Execution

UPDATE (19:29): Back to the drawing board. Hopefully, the state will get this fixed. Unfortunately, they will now have to go back to the courts for another warrant.


Fox News
reports (via AP):

Calif. Delays Execution of Killer Indefinitely

SAN QUENTIN, Calif. — The state on Tuesday postponed indefinitely the execution of a condemned killer amid a court battle over the state’s method of lethal injection and the role doctors may play in the death chamber.

State officials notified the federal courts they would be unable to comply with a judge’s order to have a medical professional administer a lethal dose of barbiturate to Michael Morales in the execution chamber, a court spokeswoman told The Associated Press.

[more]

Morales’ execution postponed until Tuesday night – sacbee.com

SAN QUENTIN — Questions over a physician’s role in the death chamber postponed the scheduled execution early Tuesday morning of Michael Angelo Morales, the man condemned for raping and killing a Lodi girl more than two decades ago. Just before 3 a.m. Tuesday, Vernell Crittendon, spokesman for San Quentin State Prison, said the execution was rescheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

In an unprecedented move in California since executions resumed in 1992, an anesthesiologist was to stay with Morales to make sure the 46-year-old man was rendered and remained unconscious after the first round of drugs entered his vein in a three-chemical lethal injection process. Another anesthesiologist was also to be present, but not in the execution chamber.

But anesthesiologists scheduled to monitor the Tuesday morning execution withdrew from the process in response to language in a district court order regarding their roles.

[more]

SCOTUS Denies Morales Stay

I must say that I’m surprised that Justice Kennedy sent this up to the entire SCOTUS. The appeal had been shown to be without merit to several courts below. However, it now appears that Michael Morales final appeal has been denied and that justice will finally be done for his victim and her family.

Inset: Morales’ victim Terri Winchell.

From the Sacramento Bee:

U.S. high court denies killer’s bid for stay

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay the execution of convicted killer Michael Morales, ending his legal battle to avoid the execution planned for just after midnight.

Justice Anthony Kennedy reviewed the case, then sent it to the full court, which denied Morales’ final appeal at 6:29 p.m. EST, according to court spokesman Ed Turner.

“The court entered orders denying the request for stays of execution,” he said.

The Supreme Court was the only legal option left for Morales, 46, who is scheduled to die from lethal injection at 12:01 a.m. at San Quentin State Prison for killing teenager Terri Winchell, of Lodi.

Tick Tock Tick Tock

If SCOTUS refuses to hear this case, it’s a done deal . . .

From the Sacramento Bee: 9th Circuit refuses stay of Morales execution

On Sunday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to stay the execution [of Michael Angelo Morales], turning down defense arguments that Morales was framed and that California’s lethal injection procedure would subject him to an unconstitutional and excruciating level of pain.

The judges ruled that purported new evidence of innocence was presented too late. They also said a lower court had assured that Morales will be unconscious before and during the administration of lethal drugs.

[more]