The Bakersfield City Council's agenda tonight is four pages long, but all the attention and time will be spent on four little lines: the immigration proposals.

The are three resolutions on tap:

1. Declaring English the official language of Bakersfield
2. Affirming that Bakersfield is not a sanctuary city and that Bakersfield police will cooperate with federal agencies.

Both of those are from Councilman David Couch.

3. Recommending the federal government enforce and reform its laws, pay local governments the cost of dealing with illegal immigrants, and affirming that Bakersfield police will cooperate with federal agencies.
That's from Councilwoman Sue Benham.

So far, public comment at council meetings has been overwhelmingly against Couch's proposals; but several council members say the calls and e-mails they've gotten have been overwhelmingly in favor.

As far as I can tell, there are three big things that could happen:

1. Couch's resolutions both pass.
2. Couch's resolutions both fail.
3. Someone moves to amend the agenda and removes the items entirely, so no vote on the resolutions themselves is ever taken.


The meeting will be live on KGOV, channel 16 on Bright House cable, beginning at 6:30, although the good part isn't expected until 7 or 7:15. And it's probably going to be the most interesting thing on TV tonight, far surpassing The Bionic Woman.

-- James Geluso

Kevin McCarthy's again making a name for himself.
The “Weekly Standard,” in this week’s cover story, names the Bakersfield congressman one of three “Young Guns of the House GOP.”
The prominent conservative magazine calls McCarthy “the strategist” who has one goal — “to retake the House,” including by targeting freshman Democrats.
McCarthy’s described as a better campaigner and more of a people person than his powerful predecessor and mentor, Bill Thomas.
“The important thing — and the thing I think Republicans lack — is ideas,” McCarthy’s quoted as saying. “We need new ideas, creative ideas, and we shouldn't walk away from being conservative.”
You can get the full story here:
 
http://www.weeklystandard.c...

Looks like Bakersfield has finally snagged its first visit from a major presidential candidate.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will drop in on Dewar’s Candy Shop on Eye Street Tuesday afternoon, his press folks announced today.

The event is not open to the general public. Romney, a leading Republican hopeful, is scheduled to talk to reporters afterward, though.

Romney plans to visit several California cities over five days, including Orange, Santa Clara, Long Beach and Sacramento.

GOP candidate Rudy Giuliani will be nearby — sorta — next week, too. He's visiting L.A., Santa Barbara and Lancaster next Thursday.

California’s expected to get more presidential candidate visits this year than in years past since it moved its presidential primary up to February.

Anyone else excited/interested the presidential race is finally coming to town? Do you think they all will come here? Or are you dreading all the ads sure to come?