California's fiscal future lookspositively dire. The budget deficit isexpected to soar to more than 40 billion (more than 1,000 per resident) overthe next year. It is the perfect stormof falling tax revenues caused by the popping of the equity and real estatebubbles, and soaring unemployment claims. But the Legislature and the governor are not the only ones to blame;just look at the results of the last election.

Voter ignorance is in large part to blame as well.

In a rare instance, Democrats and Republicans have an issue to unite against: open primaries.

February has been an exciting time for California and the nation. It has also been an unsure one for many California residents, while we waited for a final agreement by state leaders on a 2009-2010 state budget. By Tuesday, February 17, it was expected that the California Senate and Assembly would vote on a final proposed budget on Saturday, February 21, 2009. At the same time, on Tuesday, February 17, President Obama signed into law the $787 billion federal stimulus program, which is supposed to help alleviate the economic hardship in California.

Goodthing all that budget nastiness has abated in Sacramento, because someone's mentioned the"D" word and that's always good for controversy.

So grab acopy of "Chinatown"and pop some corn. We're in for with a drought of water but a flood offinger-pointing.

Waterwars kicked off Friday, when state water officials called for allCalifornians to cut water use 20 percent.

"Of all the gin joints in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine."

When Rick utters these fateful worlds in "Casablanca," the audience understands it's more than just mere blind luck, mere fortune. Still, why him, and why then?

Equally confusing is why state and federal leaders would continue down the path more traveled, a path of tax hikes, up and up and up...

From the Mercury News:

Inthe end, Democrats blinked — as much for lack of sleep as the starkrealization that, by further stalling on the state budget, Californiawould blow up before their weary eyes.

Open Voter Registration. At the time they register, all voters shall have the freedom to choose whether or not to disclose their party preference. No voter shall be denied the right to vote for the candidate of his or her choice in either a primary or a general election for statewide constitutional office, the State Legislature, or the Congress of the United States based upon his or her disclosure or nondisclosure of party preference.

This measure would permit a voter, at the time of registration, to choose whether or not to disclose a party preference. This measure would also provide that a voter may vote for the candidate of his or her choosing in the primary election, regardless of his or her disclosure or non-disclosure of party preference.

This bill would call a statewide special election to be held on June 10, 2010.

Thirty California counties were mad as hell last week, and vowed that they wouldn't take it anymore.

After California legislators were unable to come together last weekend to fix the epic failure that is our budget crisis, no definitive deal was struck until Thursday. But before that, threats were made.