As you may have heard from numerous posts on Calstuff or Beetle, the ASUC elections mess is ballooning. If you missed the background and don’t want to read the play by play on Calstuff, here is the ten second summary:

• J-Council suit filed against SA executives for illegal chalking near polling places.
• SA party chair Suken Vakil speaking on behalf of executive SA candidates lies to J-Council.
• J-Council disqualifies entire SA executive slate.
• Outgoing President Manny issues Executive Order saying SA executives all take office, this illegally and completely bypasses J-Council.
• Oren acts like the President he thinks he is by issuing executive orders putting an SA friend in as Attorney General and Vishal also plays along with the SA won line.

Manny issuing the executive order giving the SA executives office is clearly illegal. The J-Council can call him on this, but with the dominance of SA will the J-Council ruling be followed? The candidates who would be executives can challenge the disqualified SA executives.

This is shady ground filled with technicality landmines. There are constitutional questions and people who are set on taking power no matter what the consequences. The University might end up recognizing one set of executives.

For the original disqualification suit, SA would have had reasonable chances if they took their case to federal court, which is the route previous whiners who broke the rules took. However after the executive order by Manny and Vishal telling the J-Council to screw itself any credibility they had for winning an appeal was destroyed.

Now the issue has morphed. The people who truly care about the ASUC are worried about its credibility as an organization. They know if the situation goes to court the ASUC’s autonomy will take a hit.

Now What?

The best case scenario I can see is the ASUC sorting itself out by allowing the J-Council the full power it has according to the constitution. This means SA admitting it broke campaign rules and accepting punishment. Having 60% of the senate is very powerful if you are the only major party. The chances of SA backing down when it might be able to pull off a hostile takeover of the ASUC are very low.

The worst case scenario is a federal judge ruling the ASUC is under the direct control of the University and the Chancellor should decide what happens. This will strike a major blow to ASUC autonomy and its power.

The middle ground is some kind of compromise. SA will let the ASUC keep its independence and the other parties will let SA have the executive offices. All SA wants is power while the other people are more concerned about the viability of the ASUC as an independent organization.

Then I think…the ASUC has abandoned students numerous times (the fees increases we voted on they negotiated, the GA-MOU, their feel good events for their 600 interns, large executive offices, decreasing funds for student groups). The fact we even had the elections without any major problems after last second planning is a minor miracle. Our fees and trust were given with the promise they would serve students. I see lies and self-serving behavior all around.

In the end all students will lose.

Good to see the Berkeley City Council utilizing its resources wisely to fix local problems like Telegraph:

The famously liberal city of Berkeley is expected to become the first in the nation to put forth a ballot measure calling for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.

The City Council will decide tonight whether to put the measure on the Nov. 7 ballot, at a cost of about $10,000. The measure, if approved, would create a task force to monitor the president and vice president, who backers of the initiative say should be impeached because of the Iraq war, federal wiretapping and other issues.

I think it’s a good idea. There are no easily accessible sources to assist in monitoring the government. The newspapers can’t even fill their pages, there is so little news. Individuals writing about current events on the Internet? Yeah right. Only a brave city like Berkeley can amass the resources necessary to cover the news. It’s just that simple.

UPDATE: IndyBay reports that the Council voted to include the measure on the Fall ballot… Another city issue of high-importance was decided tonight: celebrating Cindy Sheehan Day in Berkeley…

You might have read about Barry Goldwater’s nephew making a fool of himself in his run to become Arizona’s next governor. Normally I wouldn’t care. I’d just add it to my very long list of why I’m ashamed to be a Republican and move on. But when it comes to Barry Goldwater, high on my very short list of why I’m proud to be a Republican, I make it a point to care.

A quick introduction to Goldwater’s worldview and where it stands in relation to today’s party:

Goldwater’s vision of the Republican Party was simple and yet still cutting edge today: “The Republican Party should stand for freedom and only freedom,” Goldwater advised. “Don’t raise hell about the gays, the Blacks and the Mexicans. Free people have a right to do as they damn well please.”

Goldwater’s libertarian instincts would make him considered liberal by current Republican Party powerbrokers. This, in turn, raises questions about the role and influence of libertarians in the party that so many previously considered their natural home.

I think most people who are interested in politics choose a favorite politician in the early stages of one’s political development. One tries to find out all about his political “father” or “mother,” which in turn influences one’s own beliefs. Most people go for the big guys, like the Founding Fathers, Lincoln, Reagan or Roosevelt (either one). I, however, went with Goldwater. I think that helps explain why my political beliefs are the way they are.

So after reading that embarassing story about Goldwater’s nephew, I decided to see if there was anything new concerning the big guy himself. Apparently, we Goldwater fans are in for a treat this Fall. HBO will be running a new documentary in mid-September: Mr. Conservative: Goldwater on Goldwater.

The film’s producer, Goldwater’s granddaughter, gave an interview to KPCC that gives a little more detail.

I can’t wait to see it. My biggest hope is that it will remind Republicans how far we have fallen. That won’t happen, but at least we’ll have a good movie.

Sixty-one years ago today, June 26, the United Nations Charter was signed in San Francisco. Ah, what a different world we live in today because that glorious international body has done its task of preventing serious international conflicts.

The UN is taking major action in Sudan, it’s standing strong in Iraq trying to assist the impoverished locals there, it’s trying to benefit both sides in the Iranian nuclear issue, it’s never questioned the right to exist for Israel - which shelters a people persecuted for thousands of years, and it is totally free of corruption and third world hegemony. And it pays its parking tickets.

I believe it was Ronald Reagan who asked the question, referring to the presidency of Jimmy Carter, “are you better off than you were four years ago?” Well citizens-of-the-world, are we all better off than we were 61 years ago? You’ve heard my opinion. I look forward to reading your responses.

Today’s letter fix comes from Bob Ryan in the SF Chronicle:

But the long-term solution to the immigration problem is for the United States to declare that a living wage is a basic human right, and show real leadership in advancing the cause of an international minimum wage. The national debate over immigration reform should include a thorough review of the merits of this approach. If we are truly serious about fixing our broken immigration laws and policies, an international minimum wage may well be the key element in reaching that goal.

No comment. If anyone else wants to jump in and state how this would mess up not only America but the entire world, feel free to share.

I don’t watch the Daily Show much (I prefer the Colbert Report when I have time to watch), but this study is pretty interesting:

Two political scientists found that young people who watch Stewart’s faux news program, “The Daily Show,” develop cynical views about politics and politicians that could lead them to just say no to voting…

To test for a “Daily Effect,” Baumgartner and Morris showed video clips of coverage of the 2004 presidential candidates to one group of college students and campaign coverage from “The CBS Evening News” to another group. Then they measured the students’ attitudes toward politics, President Bush and the Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.).

The results showed that the participants rated both candidates more negatively after watching Stewart’s program. Participants also expressed less trust in the electoral system and more cynical views of the news media…

Yesterday, while I was waiting for something, my friend was watching some Daily Show clips on the Comedy Central site. I was a little buzzed, but this one got to me. It’s about the Congressional Softball League and how our representatives take their partisanship to disgusting new lows. Then I realized, more than ever, that Congress is filled with 400+ people whose politics I dislike, and whose personalities I would probably dislike even more. Who are these people? Stewart gives us his take in another clip: “Seriously, the House of Representatives is filled with insane jackasses.”

Yesterday I went to change the address on my car’s registration to my new Berkeley address. I needed to get it on record because the city of Berkeley requires residents to have their motor vehicle registered at their Berkeley address before a parking permit can be bought. Why I should have to buy a parking permit to park in front of my house and the deal with the whole city bureaucracy is another story for another day.

To the city’s credit, a person I talked to over the phone told me I could change my address at a AAA office if I was a member instead of the local DMV. Being a member I decided to try this. I went to AAA’s Long Beach location, where I had no trouble finding parking. The office was nice and I waited about three minutes to be seen by a receptionist. After I explained my situation, she gave me the proper DMV address change form and told me to fill it out until a representative was available. Before I finished a second form I was called by name to one of the stations. I explained my situation to the representative and she gave me another DMV form to fill out and explained how she would process it to ensure it would get changed correctly. She then proceeded to print out a copy of my new registration for only the mandatory DMV fee of $16. The kind representative even made copies of the forms for my personal records. I was out as fast as I came in. The whole transaction took less then fifteen minutes. It was the late afternoon, so people were streaming in and out pretty fast. Compare this to my last trip to the DMV. I drove around the parking lot once or twice to find a spot that was freshly vacated. I then waited at least ten minutes in line to be seen and get a number to talk to an employee who would actually help me. I then waited for a good long time; about two hours the last time I was there.

Based on my experience, I would choose AAA over the DMV any day. Even my AAA card is a tad bit studier then my driver’s license. This is a great example of how a private company can do something far better then a government bureaucracy. I call for the DMV to be demolished to a computer server that keeps records. The established companies that handle insurance and other driving services can provide the entire customer service aspect. Prices will be lower and service will be higher when the functions of the DMV are provided for by businesses.

This will save taxpayers millions. The state will no longer have to maintain a huge bureaucracy which is notorious for its poor customer service. It will also save everyone who would ever go to the DMV a lot of time and frustration.

UPDATE: Friday is free too. Man it was crowded today…

BART and the rest of the Bay Area’s public transit will be free to ride this Thursday:

Thursday, June 22 has been declared a Spare the Air day.

As part of the Spare the Air program you can ride BART free all day June 22. Anyone entering a BART station between the start of service and the end of service can ride free on June 22!

This is the first of three possible free transit days.

If you’re not doing anything, why not go to the City and escape the killer heat of Berkeley: 90+ tomorrow. Or you can take a trip around the Bay, a.k.a. my daily commute: Berkeley -> Fremont [BART], Fremont -> San Jose [VTA Bus], San Jose -> Millbrae [CalTrain], Millbrae -> Berkeley [BART]. Bring some music and enjoy the ride.

Last night I was walking near my home in Huntington Beach in the Great Orange County. I saw a girl who looked about 16 years old. She was riding a bike and talking on a cell phone. She was not wearing a helmet.

This is an example of how some people do not know the first thing about responsible cell phone use or safety. Instead of steering her bike with two hands or focusing all her concentration on riding she was yapping away. What would you do to fix this problem? You could tell the phone maker to include a pamphlet about responsible use with every new phone. You could tell the bike manufacturer to put warning labels on their bikes to avoid distracted driving. You could even have teachers teach children in school the proper use of cell phones and operation of means of transit.

While it would be interesting to see the school aspect given a try, ultimate responsibility lies with the individual person, or in this case Mom and Dad. Even beyond that is the issue of etiquette. Some people have not learned the library or a restaurant is the wrong place for a loud conservation. The last thing we need is a new law, but with safety concerned it might be the only way to reach out to those who endanger other people.

I am reminded of the book Showdown by Larry Elder. A friend loaned it to me (thank you James) and I would highly recommend it. Among the topics covered are personal responsibility and why certain things like helmet laws are not as effective as they seem. As Elder explained, each person has a level of acceptable risk. If one thing is required such as wearing a helmet then other factors like speed or control will be modified to maintain a risk homeostasis.

I hope people realize it is their responsibility to make the right choices and the government is not a great nanny.

Natalie Maines, lead singer of the Dixie Chicks, cannot seem to resist blabbing with her “what’s wrong with the U.S. today” urges. Or, at least when, quite conveniently, she is overseas. This time, in an interview with the British Telegraph, Maines slams American patriotism. “I don’t understand the necessity for patriotism. Why do you have to be a patriot?…I don’t see why people care about patriotism.” You’re right Natalie, without patriotism, things would been so much easier in trying times like, say, Valley Forge or Antietam.

Instead of trying to answer her own question, she (again like every time she enters the political arena), leaves it open in her typical, shallow manner. The problem, I believe, is that Ms. Maines likes to make headlines and say controversial things, but then steps back and accuses others of persecuting her for contradicting her moronic political ideology or lack thereof.

The clincher, however, is the following quotation: “A lot of artists cashed in on being against what we said or what we stood for because that was promoting their career, which was a horrible thing to do. A lot of pandering started going on, and you’d see soldiers and the American flag in every video. It became a sickening display of ultra-patriotism.”

Flashing an American flag in a country music video is not sickening. Having a rock or country artist put his or her arm around a Servicemember in a video or at a USO concert is not sickening. Furthermore, those artists might not have done so because of Natalie’s comments, but because 130,000+ brave patriots are in a hellish war zone over there. You know Natalie, what’s sickening is the fact that we face an enemy which slams planes into buildings, beheads civilians, blows up trains and buses, and all does so in the name of a corrupted, violent version of a truly great religion.

Let me be completely clear, Natalie has a Constitutional right to say what she does. She should speak her mind just as everyone else does, and I’m happy we live in a society where that is commonplace. Others should be so fortunate. But if you can’t take the heat, get the hell out of the kitchen. You cannot in a free and democratic society criticize President Bush, American patriotism, or the American Right (as she has all done) if you do not want to be criticized back by their proponents.

I think it’s unfair that some radio hosts took Dixie Chicks music off the air in response to Natalie’s 2003 comments. But I, however, view those people as a very small portion of the country Natalie loves to criticize but cannot seem to fully understand.

P.S. I strongly welcome your constructive criticism in the comments section. But if you expect me to respond to, for example, “shut up” or “grow some skin”, please do not bother posting in the first place.

The Communists are weighing in on the Cody’s Books/Decline of Berkeley issue. Here are parts one and two of an article entitled “Capitalism–not People’s Park–killed Cody’s Books.” It is written by a member of the IWW (who have just scored a major victory in the Global War against Capitalism by unionizing Shattuck Cinemas). I’ll save you the trouble of reading the whole thing. Here are some of the funniest bits:

I maintain that capitalism is the problem. Of course, none of these opinions are based on scientific, peer reviewed study, but at least my analysis is more thorough than any others I have read or heard thus far. Instead of scapegoating, I prefer deductive reasoning… I have not done a scientific study comparing the rate of business turnover on Telegraph to business turnover elsewhere. Such a study would be very complex… While I have not done a study on Homelessness, it is indeed likely that Homelessness has increased as a result of Market fundamentalist economic policies.. What factors are likely to be the cause of Cody’s failing? […] Massive tax cuts to the richest members of the Capitalist Class; outsourcing to “third world” nations; illegal and costly wars for oil, power, and profit; anti-union policies; active and increased union busting; refusal to increase the minimum wage; massive cuts to social democratic “safety net” protections… Capitalism is an engineered system of organized thuggary… The only solution to that problem is to subdue and eliminate the cause, and that cause is capitalism, pure and simple… Bottom Line, Cody’s is a casualty in the struggles between businesses in their will to power under the logic of capitalist market discipline… Based on deductive reasoning, its the only conclusion that best fits the facts.

There’s much more where that came from. Where from exactly? I’d say out of his ass, but I haven’t done a study.

Alex Marlow wrote an essay about blogging for one of his classes last semester. I helped out a bit, so allow me to quote Alex quoting myself:

The news culture has changed; an unbiased news source used to be considered ideal, whereas now some people crave the partisan debate. Berkeley blogger Patrick Rodriguez said, “blogging isn’t always about pushing your views though. A big part of it is see how other people react to the things you post. Half the fun of blogs are the discussions that your commenters start. You never know how the discussion will evolve, but you’ll always learn something new in the process.”18 I have written newspaper columns for a political magazine on campus, and the climax of the excitement occurs when you first see the article in print. When I post on my blog, the excitement is when I begin to see what topics are discussed in the comments section. The comments sometimes break down my argument, they sometimes affirm it, and other times they enhance it. Blogging allows for the development of news to be more rapid and more multi-sided than does typical news outlets.

Check out the whole thing.

Yesterday, the Scientologists had a table set up in the Downtown Berkeley BART station. They were giving out “Free Stress Tests” and people were lining up to get them. Prior to this, I had often seen Scientology ads in the BART trains themselves. I wonder what it would be like if other religions started to advertise so blatantly…

It’s an even numbered year. That means Republicans are tackling the tough issues:

President Bush on Thursday signed into law legislation that raises fines tenfold for radio and television broadcasters that violate U.S. decency standards by airing extensive profanity or sexual content.

The new law… could help congressional Republicans woo conservatives in a tough election year as they have faced ebbing support from key core constituencies…

“This law will ensure that broadcasters take seriously their duty to keep the public airwaves free of obscene, profane and indecent material,” Bush said at a signing ceremony with lawmakers who sponsored the bill and the five FCC commissioners.

Some Republicans have even proposed regulating the content of cable. I agree, if they promise to get rid of the most obscene, profane, and indecent thing on TV: C-SPAN.