Political list makers

The Capitol Weekly newspapers in Sacramento has listed the bottom half of the top 100 most influential people in California politics. At number 90, Charles Munger of Berkshire Hathaway. Here's the entry:

Perhaps nobody is causing more heartache for Speaker Nancy Pelosi than Charles Munger. The Stanford scientist and son of the Vice-Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway has made it his mission to take drawing Congressional districts out of the hands of the Legislature. He has dedicated millions to qualifying a measure for the November ballot to do just that. Congressional Democrats, fearing their incumbency threatened, have responded in kind with millions of their own.

Munger is also an owner of the Los Angeles/San Francisco Daily Journal, the state's leading legal newspaper (and a former employer of mine).

L.A. developer and mayoral aspirant Rick Caruso makes the list at number 57.

Four in the afternoon

1. Mailer wars in the 32nd Congressional District race - Sen. Gil Cedillo's camp takes a cut-and-paste approach. LAT

2. The Los Angeles Daily News laid off Dodgers beat writer Tony Jackson. LAO

3. Washington Times columnist and sometimes Drudge Report editor Andrew Breitbart spoke at an anti-tax rally in front of Pasadena City Hall and said this about how America treats dissenters: "Just like in Cuba, like in Venezuela, those that dissent are marginalized at best, and jailed or killed or worse." PSN

4. Charlie Munger, who has a big stake in the Los Angeles Daily Journal, had this to say about the state of the newspaper industry: "It’s really a national tragedy. As they disappear - I think what replaces them won’t be as desirable as what we’re losing." His partner, Warren Buffett, said he wouldn't buy another newspaper "at any price." PaidContent