On October 31st The Sacramento Observer Newspaper published a commentary by Ron Walters entitled "Are Black Pastors Misleading Us?" In this piece, Mr. Walters stated that African American Pastors are misleading their congregants by encouraging them to vote according to their "Christian Values".

Well, it took a month for them to publish my rebuttal, "Who's Misleading Whom?", but they did finally do so. I encourage you to read both commentaries and let the Oberver Newspaper know how important you think values are when voting.

Craig DeLuz

Visit the Home of Uncommon Sense...
www.craigdeluz.com

I'm up this morning prepping for the morning show and look at the lead story for the LA Times...

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his top advisors, meeting privately to plan an agenda for his second year in office, may call a special election that could upend the state's political order, redrawing legislative and congressional district boundaries, curbing spending and revamping the bureaucracy.

Schwarzenegger would embrace various ballot measures that would be voted on in a special election and bill them as a "reform" package meant to make Sacramento more accountable.

Read my blog announcing "Fair Districts Now" for confirmation. We are right on track at 1380 KTKZ and the Governor's office is leading the way.

Hogue Show on 1380 KTKZ

The Lighting of the Christmas Tree is tomorrow night (December 2nd) at 4:30PM at the State Capitol. That's the Christmas Tree, not the Holiday Tree.

This brings back such good memories for all of us at 1380 KTKZ.

Last year at this time, we were coming down off of the recall high. It was hard to believe we actually had a new Governor in the corner office.

Around 1380 KTKZ we were just exhausted; we were all over the map following the recall. And while the recall started on KTKZ, (February 4, 2003 at 6:06AM, when Ted Costa appeared on my morning show first, asking for signatures on the petition to recall and had all the signatures to begin the needed preparations before the show was over), it was never about Me or the station - this was the People's Recall of Gray Davis.

We did our yeoman's duty and provided a conduit of information that hundreds of media outlets like MSNBC, Fox News, NY Times, LA Times and the National Review all recognized during the campaign. We gave the early platform for the recall; while everyone else - even the California GOP - was calling it a crackpot scheme.

But that was our job as an activist morning radio show in the "Belly of the Beast" of Sacramento. We watched the trends, we read the tea leaves, and we knew (supported) the recall as the real deal. We were the conduit for the informed minds...but we take no credit. It was, and always will be, your recall, the people of California.

After it was all over, and Governor Schwarzenegger was in office, numerous folks called us with congratulations and thanks...and gave us way too much credit.

Yet in the end, for the small role that 1380 KTKZ played, we did ask for one thing.

After five years of Governor Gray Davis actively working to politically-correct the state's recognition of Christmas we thought it was time to correct the politically (intolerant) correct agenda!

Gray Davis named the annual Christmas Tree - "The Holiday Tree", and we were tired of the slap. Sharon Davis, at the tree-lighting ceremony in 2002 asked children the question; "Who's the most important person when it comes to Christmas", and the answer was Santa Claus. What an embarrassment for the Golden State that has its roots in the Catholic Missions up and down the coast.

All I wanted - all the 1380 KTKZ listeners wanted and asked for from our new Governor - was to return the state to recognition of Christmas. To call the Christmas Tree a Christmas Tree, not a ridiculous Holiday Tree. And Arnold came through for all of us.

Today he is still coming through, releasing the schedule for the lighting of the 2004 Christmas Tree tomorrow night at the Capitol and calling it nothing but the Christmas Tree in the official governor's press released this morning (December 1, 2004).

I know we all have issues with Arnold. He's more of a fiscal conservative and social moderate than some would like. He's pushing the edges of the Republican Party big tent out to the left and it bothers the conservatives of the party.

But say what you will about this governor, Arnold cares enough to call the Christmas Tree a Christmas Tree and in this state where the Declaration of Independence is banned (because of the mention of a Creator) from a public classroom - that means something.

Can there be a more powerful 'symbol' of just what dire fate we escaped as a state? The fate of being subject to a weak-willed, morally bankrupt, win-at-all-cost, cow-tow to the progressive-left Gray Davis?

The California state Christmas Tree is back and instead of some dour, low-key ceremony intended to please the unionized state workers; it's a big deal celebration for all of us.

Thank you Governor Schwarzenegger for NOT being afraid to recognize the Christ in Christmas.

Just for fun...pack some hot chocolate and take a family trip to the Capitol Mall tonight, for a beautiful sight. Take part in the lighting of California's Christmas Tree.

Merry Christmas from the Hogue Show on 1380 KTKZ

It's official, the initiative to reverse the gerrymandered districts in California has been officially released by the Secretary of State's Office for signature gathering. Ted Costa's "Fair Districts Now" is on the clock to collect 598,105 signatures (8% of the total votes cast for the governor in 2002) by the deadline of April 29, 2005.

I spoke with Ted Costa this morning and he informed the 1380 KTKZ audience that volunteers are ready, the petitions are headed to the printer for SOS approval and there is word that contributions (Congressman Issa?) are on the way to "The People's Advocate" to hire signature gatherers for the journey. If you'd like to be apart of history - again - you can volunteer by calling The People's Advocate at (916) 482-6175.

The timing of this release is a gathering of a "Perfect Storm" to wash the gerrymandered control of the state's elections into the abyss of California political history.

The release of the petition is the first step.

Now we begin the drive to gather 598,105 authentic signatures by the deadline. If you remember from the recall petition, it is best to gather 30% more than needed. The target amount should be in the ballpark of 780,000 signatures by April 29th.

After the signatures qualify, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger - who has already announced his support of a similar concept to fix the re-districting control - will (should) call for a "Special Election" in 2005. The date is scheduled and a ballot is provided for the voters.

After the initiative (proposition) passes and becomes law, the independent judge panel goes to work on 're-drawing' the districts in California according to the criteria of the initiative (read it HERE) and prepares for the next election.

Since the legislature has agreed to move the primary from March back to June for 2006, this allows for plenty of time in preparing the new districts. In the end, California can have a mid-term primary and general election with 'new' districts - and the opportunity for real competition for Republican candidates.

It's the completion of the recall. Governor Davis out and 'fair, competitive' districts birthed for the next major election season in 2006.

The "Perfect Storm"...the opportunity for more Republicans to find their way to the "Belly of the Beast", in the legislature as well as the statewide ticket along side of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

All due to the effort of the recall...time for the "Hogue Show" to schedule those "Drive-by Signings". Stay tuned to 1380 KTKZ for the locations, the guests and how you can help complete the mission.

Hogue Show on 1380 KTKZ

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that a final reporting of the vote count in 17 counties may have changed the outcome for this very dangerous initiative. (Read The Story Here)

To Kevin Shelly's credit, his office is verifying the result with each county before making the results official. He believes that there may have been a mistake in the reporting by one or more counties. Let's hope he's right!

Craig DeLuz

Visit the Home of Uncommon Sense...
www.craigdeluz.com