Eddie Rose writes:

"In California this year, we have--with one notable exception--the WORST slate of candidates, including a man who can't pronounce the name of the state he claims to serve! Were it not for the importance of several ballot propositions, it probably wouldn't make much sense to go to the polls at all--unless you believe that we should simply vote for the LESSER OF EVILS. What an option!
Here are my recommendations:

Prop. 1A: Use existing gas taxes for roads and transportation projects. What a novel idea! That's what gas taxes SHOULD be used for! If "our" elected officials weren't so corrupt and incompetent, we wouldn't even need Prop. 1A. But we do! YES

Prop. 83: Residence restrictions and monitoring of sexual predators; increases penalties for violent and habitual sex offenders and child molesters. YES

Prop. 84: Protects drinking water quality and coastal resources. YES

Prop. 85: Parental notification prior to termination of minor's pregnancy. YES

Prop. 86: Tax on cigarettes to fund hospital emergency services. All we need to know is that Phillip Morris and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco companies have spent over $60 million (!) to date to try and defeat this proposition. The tobacco companies are blatant LIARS. A definite YES

Prop. 87: Tax on oil companies to fund alternative energy research and production. If anyone could be more corrupt and vile than the tobacco companies, it's BIG OIL. Chevron, Exxon/Mobil, and Shell Oil have spent over $60 million (!) to date on their propaganda to con voters into voting against this proposition. Like BIG TOBACCO, BIG OIL LIES. A definite YES

Prop. 88: $50 parcel tax. An end-run around Prop. 13. NO

Prop. 89: Public financing of political campaigns. Time to end political corruption by BOTH major political parties. Just see how much money BIG OIL, BIG TOBACCO, drug companies, the insurance industry, HMOs and powerful labor unions pour into the campaign coffers of unscrupulous politicians who do their bidding. A definite YES

Prop. M: Continuation of half-cent sales tax to fund additional transportation projects in Orange County. Measure M was originally approved by Orange County voters in 1996, but it has FAILED MISERABLY to deliver on some of its promises, such as synchronization of traffic signals and more efficient (i.e. rail) mass transit. Measure M bureaucrats DON'T deserve another chance! NO

Governor: In retrospect, Steve Westly would have been a better choice than Phil Angelides, but at least Angelides knows how to pronounce CALIFORNIA--unlike his Republican opponent--and at least Angelides' daddy wasn't a card-carrying Nazi--unlike Schwarzenegger's daddy--and Schwarzenegger has an IQ only about 5 points higher than the average NFL running back. ANGELIDES

Lt. Governor: McClintock lost whatever credibility he had left when he endorsed the evil empress Pat Bates for Orange County Supervisor. As Insurance Commissioner, John Garamendi refused to accept ANY campaign contributions from the insurance industry. That shows integrity, something lacking in most elected officials today. GARAMENDI

Attorney General: What a choice! Poochigian is almost as ANTI-environment as Congressman "Dumbo" Pombo, if that's possible. And then Governor Jerry Brown appointed the unfit and incompetent Rose Bird to the California Supreme Court. This one's easy. NO RECOMMENDATION

State Treasurer: Bill Lockyer did a good job as Attorney General. LOCKYER

U.S. Senator: Dianne Feinstein has done a good job as our U.S. Senator. She deserves re-election. FEINSTEIN

Orange County Board of Supervisors, 5th District: The primary was reminiscent of the movie "The Good {Eddie Rose}, the Bad {Cassie DeYoung}, and the Ugly (Pat Bates}." Unfortunately, the Bad and the Ugly outspent the Good by about 400 to 1. If the election proved anything at all, it was that there are only about 10,000 INTELLIGENT voters in Orange County's 5th Supervisorial District. Bates shares one trait in common with BIG OIL, BIG TOBACCO, George Bush, and Dick Cheney---they are all PATHOLOGICAL LIARS! And DeYoung wants to con the environmental community into thinking she's an "environmentalist." I cannot, in good conscience, support either of these candidates. Write in me, EDDIE ROSE, for OC Supervisor

PS: If you know anyone who lives in Florida or Washington, please remind them to vote for Bill Nelson or Maria Cantwell, respectively, two GREAT U.S. Senators."

[Eddie Rose, a former Republican Laguna Niguel City Councilman, is famous for his political independence, card-playing skills and opinions. Just ask OJ.]