WSJ: How to Enrage a Democrat

The Wall Street Journal puts it perfectly:

If nothing else, we now know what it takes to make a Democrat go nuts. One word: "appeasement." Read the editorial

This Week: Marriage, and Democrats' Bizarre Response to President's Rejection of Appeasement

Yesterday we got a clear picture of just what the Left has in mind for America in both foreign and domestic policy.

JUDICIAL ACTIVISM: CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT REDEFINES MARRIAGE. On the domestic side, the California Supreme Court re-opened the issue of same-sex marriage with its 4-3 decision substituting its will for the will of the people on the matter (vote for Proposition 22: 61%). This is certainly an emotional issue for many people, and understandably so. Yet, Republicans can agree that it is not the role of the judiciary to fundamentally redefine the basic tenets of society. That is a function appropriate for the legislative process, and Governor Schwarzenegger has consistently vetoed bills aimed at reversing Proposition 22. (See today's Wall Street Journal editorial.)

It will be interesting to see how Barack Obama tip-toes around this issue. Make no mistake: the activists behind his campaign insist on rewriting the definition of marriage as a beginning, rather than an end point, on their agenda of social engineering.

When we witness judicial activism, it's worth noting that the legislative branch -- that closest to the people -- is outlined in the Constitution's Article I, while the branch most removed from the people, the judiciary, is described in its Article III. The judiciary is intended to interpret laws, not make them, as the California Supreme Court in his case has chosen to do.

Significantly, the state Republican Party has already endorsed the November constitutional amendment ballot initiative that would reverse this court decision by putting Proposition 22 into the state constitution, as other states have done.

IN ISRAEL, PRESIDENT BUSH DECRIES APPEASEMENT, OBAMA ASSUMES HE'S TALKING ABOUT HIM. On the foreign policy side, yesterday we witnessed Barack Obama's bizarre overreaction to President Bush's comments before the Israeli Knesset where the President rightly articulated the dangers of a policy of appeasement, noting that "the false comfort of appeasement" has been "discredited by history." He's right, of course.

Barack Obama, apparently inferring that the President must have been talking about him and his own stated goal of negotiating with state sponsors of terrorism, lashed out and attacked the President.

Having watched the speech, it's clear the President was making points that are important, appropriate, and principled -- but not new. To assume President Bush "must" have been talking about Obama is another reason why a growing number of Americans see Obama as arrogant and elitist. (Text of President Bush's speech)

Later, Senator McCain made the case very clearly as to why Obama's foreign policy worldview is naive, questioning Obama's desire to negotiate with state sponsors of terrorism, like the Iranian leader, who wants to see Israel wiped off the map, and even denies the Holocaust. Watch Senator McCain in this excellent ABC News clip.

Jewish Republican Advisory Committee Appointed

As Republican leaders and candidates need to have a clear understanding of issues facing California's diverse communities, I today announced the appointment of the first in a series of advisory committees.

The Jewish Republican Advisory Committee will meet regularly with Republican Party leaders, elected officials and candidates to discuss issues of concern in California's large Jewish communities, and advise candidates on effectively addressing those issues.

Members of the Advisory Committee include:

Howard Epstein of San Francisco is the Republican Jewish Coalition's Northern California chapter President, and serves as the Chairman of the San Francisco Republican Party. He is a small business owner by profession, having owned 2 small businesses, and now is dedicated to GOP causes. He has lived in San Francisco his entire life, and he serves on the Board of Directors of the Small Property Owners of San Francisco.

Dr. Joel Geiderman of Beverly Hills is the Republican Jewish Coalition’s California Chairman, and sits on the RJC national Board of Directors. He is also a Presidential appointee as the Vice Chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council & Museum in D.C. Originally from Chicago; Joel is the Chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Cedars Sinai Medical Center, in Beverly Hills, CA.

Larry Greenfield, Esq. of Los Angeles is the Republican Jewish Coalition’s CA Director. Previously, he worked professionally in law, business and philanthropy. Larry also served in the Armed Forces of the United States in Naval Intelligence Reserves. He is a Lincoln Fellow of the Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship & Political Philosophy and lectures widely on American politics & foreign policy, and national security issues. Larry graduated from UC Berkeley in political science as Class Speaker, and he picked up his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. He sits on the Resolutions Committee of the California Republican Party.

Jerry M. Haleva of Sacramento is active with Republican Jewish Coalition’s Sacramento chapter and nationally. Professionally, he is a political consultant and formerly served as chief of staff to the CA Senate Republican Leader. Jerry chaired the Citizens Advisory Committee of the CA Highway Patrol and was appointed by Governor Wilson to serve on the CA Film Commission.

Michael Rosen, Esq. of San Diego is the Republican Jewish Coalition’s San Diego chapter President and also the Secretary of the San Diego Republican Party. Michael is a Harvard trained attorney in professional practice, and he writes political columns for TechCentralStation.com

Richard Sherman of Los Angeles is the Republican Jewish Coalition’s Los Angeles Chapter President. He is a gubernatorial appointee to the CA Board of Psychology. A licensed psychologist in private practice, Richard was President of the CA Psychological Association and is a frequent media commentator on mental health issues.

Mitch Silberman of Thousand Oaks is the Republican Jewish Coalition's Chapter President in Ventura County and active in his community. Professionally, Mitch is a wealth management professional for high net worth individuals, and is himself a former child actor.

President Bush Joins Israel Anniversary Celebrations

Each morning I receive an update on what the President and members of the Cabinet are working on that day, along with news clips and related information.

Today's update focused on President Bush's visit to Israel, having arrived in Tel Aviv this morning for celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the country's founding.

In the aftermath of 9/11, Americans have been exposed to just a fraction of the security measures Israelis have had to live with since the country's inception. Ambulances pre-positioned near shopping districts during alerts, heavily armed soldiers regularly patrolling populated areas, metal detectors at the entrance to McDonald's, and many other security measures punctuate daily life. Even today, rockets continue to be fired into Israel from the Gaza Strip.

President Bush is not just visiting Israel, but continuing a major diplomatic push for a peace deal that will enhance Israel's security.

Berkeley Leftists Deploy Witches Against Marines

The Marines at the Marine Corps Recruiting Center in Berkeley now have a new adversary they were probably not trained to handle when they went through basic training at Camp Pendleton or Camp Lejeune: witches.

In another example of how desperate the extreme left is to find somebody -- anybody -- to stand in the way of Marines recruiting in the Bay Area, the wacky anti-war group Code Pink is recruiting witches, sirens, and others to "cast spells" and "do rituals" against the Marines.

Yet, it seems the anti-war group leaders are coming up short on magicians (or whatever). Fox News reports that the protests this week at the Berkeley recruiting center have been "ill attended" despite the best efforts of the Berkeley city council to support the protests by issuing special noise and parking permits to Code Pink.

FoxNews Story: Code Pink Protesters Try Witchcraft Against Marines

Perata Pulls Plug on Denham Recall Effort

We are watchful and cautious about the announcement by the unpredictable Senator Perata that he's ending support for the recall campaign against Senator Denham.

Our ground troops continue to mobilize to defeat this ballot measure, and I believe our strength on the ground was a key factor in prompting Senator Perata to reverse course and abandon his campaign to recall Senator Denham.

Our thousands of Republican volunteers from in and around the 12th Senate district remain ready to conduct one of the most widespread and effective ‘get out the vote’ efforts in recent California GOP history.

I want to commend our county Republican chairmen, and Jeff's fellow Republican legislators, who continue to organize volunteers for deployment in the district.

Senate Republican Leader Dave Cogdill deserves special credit for his tenacious efforts to put an end to this ill-advised recall campaign and instead focus attention on solving the state’s budget crisis without raising taxes.

Senator Denham should be recognized for standing on principle against higher taxes and for a balanced budget. In doing so he has worked to put solid Republican ideas into action, while looking out for the California taxpayer and advancing responsible governance.

Dems Admit It: Denham Recall is About Raising Taxes

As voters recognize the recall effort against Jeff Denham for what it is -- a Sacramento-manufactured scheme with zero genuine support in the district -- the Mercury News today reports that Senator Don Perata admits the real reason for the recall: raising taxes.

As Californians continue suffering under high gas prices, food prices, and taxes that are among the highest in the nation, the Democrats campaigning against Senator Denham have one goal in mind: passing a budget that raises taxes on Californians even higher. Here's the latest proof:

Senate leader defends recall effort against GOP lawmaker
By DON THOMPSON
Associated Press Writer

SACRAMENTO—State Senate leader Don Perata on Thursday said the recall drive he is backing against a Central Valley Republican will help Democrats pass a budget with tax increases if it succeeds. If Sen. Jeff Denham of Merced is replaced by the lone Democrat on the recall ballot, it would leave Democrats just one vote short of the two-thirds majority they need to pass the budget in the Senate.

Full article